Archive for category: Pet-Friendly

Renting With Pets? How To Show Them In Their Best Light

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Finding a suitable rental property that meets your needs is difficult enough, but when pets are permanent members of your family, it can sometimes seem like all lessors have a “no pets” policy. Australians have some of the highest rates of pet ownership in the world, so being able to have our pets around us while in a rental is an essential part of life for many of us.

Changes to Legislation give Tenants with Pets More Rights

Residential tenancy legislation is a state matter. Currently, the only state that has legislated to give tenants the right to keep pets is Victoria, with Queensland likely to follow suit. Lessors must still give permission, but it is much harder to refuse, and tenants have a right of appeal to an external body.

Many Lessors Willing to Negotiate with Pet Owners

Attitudes are changing, however, and even though a property advert may say no pets, many lessors are willing to negotiate with tenants who have good references. Some states allow lessors to apply a pet bond or include a clause in the rental agreement requiring extra cleaning, fumigation and repair of any damage caused by pets when vacating the premises.

Here at Bunbury Real Estate, our professional property managers look at past rental history, personal references and financial capacity when we are assessing a new tenant. If they have pets, we recommend that they also include a pet resume with their tenancy application. This document is becoming increasingly popular and is helping pet owners to keep their pets with them.

What Information Should Be in a Pet Resume?

Just like a human resume, a pet resume should contain all the information needed for someone to decide if the pet will be suitable for the vacant tenancy. Information such as the age of the animal, its breed, sex and desexing status, as well as its local government registration and microchip details will show the reader that this is a well-cared for pet.

Include Copies of References

Vaccination, flea and worming schedules are essential pieces of information, as are copies of the actual vaccination and desexing certificates. Copies of references from previous lessors and a brief description of the pet’s temperament, along with some photos, will also help to build a complete picture of how the pet behaves in a home environment.

Quality of the Information More Important than the Format

Some people present their pet resumes in the form of a letter, while others with the time and knowhow follow the format of an employment resume. In fact, pet resumes are becoming so popular that a quick search online offers templates and examples. Whatever method you decide, it is the quality of information in the document and the attached references that help an agency like ours to make fair decisions.

Get a Pet-Friendly Aparment Rental with Some Extra Effort

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Finding the perfect rental property can be quite difficult. Things like proximity to transport, schools, essential services and work, as well as affordability and space in a good area, narrow the field. Add “pet friendly” to this wish list and the number of choices available plummets.

The RSPCA takes in thousands of pets every year with the hope of re-homing them, but unfortunately many are euthanised when new owners cannot be found. A significant proportion of these animals are handed in by distraught pet owners who are forced to make the awful choice between being homeless or giving up their beloved pet.

Many Owners Concerned About Damage to their Properties

As property managers responsible to our owners for the condition of their rental properties, what can we do to close this gap? At Bunbury Real Estate we advise pet owners to put in a little extra effort before they start looking. We also tell them that many owners are concerned that their property could be trashed by tenants who are irresponsible pet owners.

Save Time and Ask About Pets Up Front

To allay those fears, we have a few suggestions. Firstly, save time and anguish by asking first “Do you have any rentals that will allow pets?” This is particularly important if you are looking for an apartment, studio or unit. In the high-density living market, strata company by-laws usually prevent occupants from keeping pets.

There could be exceptions, for example a couple of caged birds, a cat or a small dog may be acceptable but large dogs may not. Asking up-front ensures that nobody is wasting their time applying for a property that will not be suitable.

Speak Directly to the Property Manager

Try to speak directly to a property manager. Asking that first vital question of someone else in the agency, such as the receptionist who does not know the property or the owner, may be a missed opportunity. It could be that a particular owner will accept a pet if the tenant has an excellent history and references.

Where a tenant has already rented somewhere else they should ask for their pets to be mentioned in any references. This will go a long way to convincing an owner and a property manager, that they are responsible tenants who will keep their pets under control.

Pet Bond and References may Convince Strata Companies

Go the extra step and do a pet profile. This should contain information about the pet and its habits, some testimonials from former neighbours and rental agents, photos and of course, current vaccination certificates and local government registrations. Offer to pay a pet bond, to cover any damage that the pet may do to the property. This may even satisfy some apartment owners and prompt submissions to the body corporate on your behalf.

Here at Bunbury Real Estate we do our best to match our owners and tenants so that everyone gets what they want. We never recommend trying to hide the pet as it only ends in tears for everyone.