5 Tips Renting With A Pet

What Landlords Hate

Most landlords are not keen in offering rentals to pet owners, even though they may be pet owners themselves.

Recent legislation now provides renters with improved rights to rent a property with their pets.

Landlords cite the problems are –

• Damage to floors, woodwork, skirtings and wiring.
• Damage to rental furnishings including curtains, carpets, furniture.
• Pet noises that other neighbours may object to.
• Smells, messes, odours, stains and marks.
• Infestation of fleas.
• Other sharers in shared properties may have allergies to pets.

Discuss Your Pet With Your Landlord

You must seek the written consent of your landlord if you wish to keep pets at the property.

Perhaps you’ve been thinking about getting a pet, but haven’t yet, so this is a good opportunity to sound out your new intended landlord.

If you have a pet, allow the landlord to meet your well-behaved, well-cared for pet and ask them if they have any questions. This allows landlords to realise how suitable pet-owner and tenant you are.

Don’t

Don’t smuggle in pets only to find neighbours have reported noises and smells.

Legal proceedings can follow where there is no pet consent and you find you and your pet homeless.

Pet Owners Make Good Tenants

Happy pets and pet owners make good tenants and may stay put for sometime.

• Finding new tenants is costly and time-consuming.
• Pet-friendly rentals are more difficult to find and tenants may look after the property exceptionally to stay put.
• Landlords largely want a profitable tenancy, a tenant paying on time, with equipment and property looked after, few maintenance callouts, and a tenant that abides by the rental agreement.

What Makes A Great Pet Rental

If you are moving to a new area, its essential to carry out a pet-friendly neighbourhood survey.

A few questions to ask yourself –

• Is the rental large enough for the size of your pet?
• Does you new rental have a suitable pet garden?
• Does the new area have a dog park within easy reach?
• Is your new home near a beach, wood area, countryside, for longer walks?
• Does your new area have any dangers? Such as a cat flap leading to a major road.
• What are local vets like, costs, specialists of your pet breed, and how far away?

If you own a small caged pet, seek the best new position in the new accommodation, comparable warmth, sunlight, nocturnal habits that your pet has already adapted to so a move will cause no new health concerns.

Moving Your Pet To Their New Home

It can be traumatic for a pet to be taken to a new home.

Prepare them –

• Dogs and cats will need a new temporary ID tag so prepare.
• Stock up on any veterinary needs before moving to your new area and vet practice.
• Update your details kept on the pet microchip system in case your pet decides to abandon their new home.
• Get your pet travel cage, basket, carrier or bag out and leave it open so your pet can hop in and out and expects to be soon travelling.
• If it’s a big move then asking friends and family to look after you pet may be essential.
• Hiring flexible pet sitting services where your dog and/or cat can stay over night may be an alternative.
• Perhaps use a cattery or kennel until your furniture has been shipped and the new home resembles some normality.

Your Pets New Home

If you take responsibility for your pet during the day of the move, then keep them secure in their cage and baskets until safe to let them out.

• Dogs need frequent breaks and short walks during moving in times.
• Cats may fortunately be more inclined to snooze in their carrier.
• Provide pets with fresh water and a little treat.
• When all the windows and doors of the new home are secured, let your pet roam in a designated room, where you have already arranged their bed, basket, water and a small treat at hand.
• Spend time with them making them in this room making them feel secure and safe.
• Keep to usual routines, such as feeding and dog walks. Use same pet beds, baskets, cushions and food bowls. Leave plenty of fresh water bowls in the new home.
• Cats are ideally kept in for two weeks or so, and some owners swear by smothering their paws in butter which will keep the cat from straying, where they sit down and enjoy licking off this treat and feel comfortable at home!