Pet Friendly Accommodation
Thinking of getting a new cat or dog?
Before you do, consider the following…
- Check with your body corporate or landlord. It is unfair to get a dog or cat only to find you have to give it up because the landlord or body corporate rules against it. To support your request to keep a pet in a unit or rental property, you should show the body corporate or real estate agent references that indicate you have been a responsible pet owner, and provide a sample pet agreement that should be set up to alleviate concerns. See www.petnet.com.au/rent/hints.html and www.petnet.com.au/rent/agreement.html
Tips for people looking for pet friendly accommodation
First of all, if you are a responsible pet owner, you do NOT need to give up your beloved cat or dog due to lack of pet friendly accommodation.
In phoning around, AWL Qld has located many pet-friendly real estate agents, and if you follow these tips it should ensure you can find property owners and body corporate that will allow you to have a pet.
- Give yourself plenty of time, if possible.
- Let the real estate agent know that having pet-friendly accommodation is a priority for you.
- Make it clear to the real estate agent that you must see evidence in writing that the accommodation you are buying/renting is pet-friendly. Don’t just rely on what you have been told.
- Provide proof that you are a responsible pet owner:
- Offer to bring your animal to an interview.
- Provide references to show you are a responsible pet owner from current property managers, former landlords, neighbours, your veterinarian, or dog training school.
- Show copies of veterinary records proving that your pet is de-sexed, identified and receiving on-going care.
- Offer to sign a Pet Agreement, which outlines rules and regulations, including clear jointly agreed procedures in case the agreement is broken.
- Refer landlords/body corporates to information on AWL Qld website (or print it off for them) to assist them in making fair decisions regarding offering accommodation.
- Provide evidence (through references) that you keep your cat indoors or use a cat enclosure or Cat Safe Fence Attachment around a section of the property to ensure that your cat does not wander and annoy neighbours.
- (See separate section in this newsletter on Cat Safe Fencing).
- DON’T GIVE UP
To download software to make searching for pet-friendly rental properties on-line easier, go to www.petfriendlyrentals.com.au .
For a short list of pet-friendly real estate agents, body corporates, strata title accommodation and rental properties on the Gold Coast, Qld, where AWL Qld has its main base, a Pet Friendly Accommodation List will be available soon.
(Gold Coast Only) If you have a house, unit or apartment that you are happy to have responsible pet owners renting or if you are a pet-friendly real estate agent or body corporate, click here for the Pet Friendly Accommodation Available Form which you can complete and email to marketing@awlqld.com.au to be included in our Pet Friendly Accommodation List.
While AWL Qld can take no responsibility for checking the quality of the renters who apply, we recommend an interview with the owners and their pets, a request for references and setting up a Pet Agreement to help ensure a happy relationship between tenant and landlord.
If you still cannot find pet-friendly accommodation, email the Animal Welfare League joy@awlqld.com.au with details of what accommodation you require and what you have already tried and we will help you as much as we can.