They recently completed a two part series on renting with pets (also featuring Pet Friendly Rentals) and it’s great that PetNet TV have provided such good coverage of the issues surrounding renting with pets.

I hope you enjoy the episodes and find them useful and you can find all of the episodes in the PetNetTV Series on YouTube.

OMG! It’s the Landlord!!! Part 1

OMG! It’s the Landlord!!! Part 2

Click here to view the property

P.S I’m always happy to promote pet friendly rentals through my blog so if you’ve got one to advertise, please let me know.

By interesting, I mean I’m pleasantly surprised by how many people are speaking favourably about renting to pet owners and the push for more body corporates to adopt a pet friendly policy.

While I don’t think charging pet owners a premium price is the answer, if it makes unwavering body corporates and paranoid landlords & property managers take notice and re-consider their current position, then it’s a start.

Pets are never the problem by themselves. It’s always up the owner to ensure they are a responsible pet owner and great tenant and I strongly believe that the overwhelming majority of pet owners out there are brilliant tenants and take wonderful care of their pets.

Voice your opinion on this important issue at http://blogs.domain.com.au/2009/08/how_pets_boost_property_prices_1.html

If you just want to go straight to the apartment listings on Real Estate.com.au, click here.

Note – PFR: stands for Pet Friendly Rentals.

PFR: Hi Chris, I was quite excited to hear from you about your pet friendly apartment complex. Can you tell me a bit about the complex and the decision to make it pet friendly?

The complex is a residential complex (no holiday letting) and is in a quiet location with a number of apartments having water views.

PFR: So was the complex designed to accommodate pets right from the start?

The complex was designated pet friendly by the developers from the start something they had not done with previous buildings, not so much designed for pets, but the by laws allow for owners to have one pet and the pet must weigh no more than 20kg.

PFR: What types of pets do you allow in the apartments? Is there any restriction on size or number of pets?

Primarily small dogs and cats. A couple of tenants have birds. Only one pet per apartment.

PFR: Many body corporates have made the decision to now allow pets due to various concerns about barking and damage to the property. What has been your experience with pet owners in your complex? If issues have arisen (e.G. Barking), how do handle this?

Over our first 18 months of operation we have not had any problems in this regard.

PFR: Have you found renting to pet owners to provide increased income for your landlords?

Certainly we are aware that a lot of other buildings do not allow pets so it is an asset when we have vacancies.

PFR: Do you use a pet rental agreement for tenants?

No but considering incorporating the pro forma you sent to us.

PFR: What are the key things you’re looking for when going through someone’s rental application?

As to pets only the size and that we still have to get the permission of the apartment owner. We also do the usual checks on potential tenants particularly on past rentals employment history and references.

PFR: What would you say to other apartment complexes that would be suitable for allowing pets but for whatever reason have decided it’s not a good idea.

In our experience we have had no problems so would suggest others consider it ,particularly as a lot of the older population are downsizing from big homes and a pet is part of the family, a comfort to them. So to be able to lease an attractive apartment and still keep their pet is a definite bonus.

PFR: Do you think allowing pets in apartment and townhouse complexes represents significant opportunities for investors right now?

There is a large proportion of the population that have pets so it is of significant advantage to investors to have a pet friendly apartment.

We have a fairly new , quality 63 apartment complex with 1,2 & 3 bedroom unfurnished large apartments in a quiet area of the sunshine coast, all available apartments are listed on http://www.realestate.com.au under postcode 4575/Kawana island. They are priced according to size (ie 1 bed/1bath-2 bed /2 bath -3 bed/3bath and position in the complex.

Complex Facilities

• Heated 20 meter lap pool
• Full size flood lit tennis court
• Underground security car spaces
• Caged storage area for each apartment

The complex is close to the water, opposite a park and is surrounded by 10 kilometers of walking/bike tracks. It’s also close to beach and a major shopping complex and would welcome any enquiries for letting.

View properties on Real Estate.com.au
(For easier viewing, use our Pet Friendly Search Tool)

This is a fantastic opportunity so get in quick!

You can find out more by visiting http://www.urbanfarming.wordpress.com or by calling Deborah on 0423 150 448.

It looks at the responsibility and considerations of having a dog in an apartment (such as allergies, talking to neighbors, researching the body corporate laws), as well as profiles of dogs more suited to apartment living and how to keep your dog entertained while you’re gone.

While this guide is focused on dogs living in apartments, it’s a great read for anyone renting or living with pets and is especially valuable for those who currently live in apartment and are thinking of getting a dog.

Download Dogs in Apartments Guide (914 Kb)

Download Adobe Reader to display and print PDF files. This software is freely distributed by Adobe Systems Inc.

A big thanks once again to RSPCA ACT for developing this excellent resource for pet owners!

Dennis Wey

Dennis Wey is Joint Managing Director of both the Beenleigh and Shailer Park Raine and Horne real estate offices and kindly agreed to an interview to answer some of the commonly asked questions by renting pet owners.

Note – PFR: stands for Pet Friendly Rentals.

PFR: Hi Dennis, thank you for talking to Pet Friendly Rentals today. Could you tell us a bit about yourself and your experience in the Real Estate industry?

Hi Ryan. Firstly, let me say that I am very interested in the rental industry and I believe we are seen as one of the most professional property management Offices in our area. Secondly, the situation regarding pets is of real concern to us. I have been involved in the real estate industry for over 30 years – 25 of those years with Raine & Horne and being a property investor myself I see both sides of the story on issues such as renting with pets.

PFR: So you’ve been in the industry a long time… What are your thoughts on why for a country where 63% of households own a pet, there are (relatively speaking) so few rentals that allow them?

That’s easy, there are pets and there are pets – there are 2 very distinct categories. To be on the safe side property owners say “no pets” when they are listing their rental properties, but in actual fact most of them don’t mind having pets live there but they are reluctant to actually promote “pets” in case they have a bad experience.

PFR: How responsible have pet owners been in your experience? Is it a case of the minority making it difficult for the majority?

We have had very little trouble with pets because we are very selective in the first place, just as we are selective with the potential tenants.

PFR: We’ve noticed that on Real Estate.com.au for example, many properties do not say anything about allowing or disallowing pets. This makes it frustrating for pet owners who often ring up to enquire about such properties. Why do you think ‘pets ok’ or ‘no pets’ are often not specified?

I personally would not promote pets for any of the properties I own and rent out, but all them actually have pets in them (except where the Body Corporate doesn’t allow them). I think people feel that they might be promoting the wrong type of pets. I believe it’s a tragedy to see a working dog for example kept in a small yard with no exercise.

PFR: What are some of the key things a Property Manager or Landlord looks for when selecting the ideal tenant?

A good past good record as well as the ability to pay rent, and if they have good references regarding pets, there are very few owners that would reject their applications.

PFR: What could pet owners do to maximise their chances of being approved for a rental?

Reference, reference, reference!

PFR: I understand that a lot of investors see pets as a liability to their investment property but what is the majority of damage to rentals actually caused by?

The only pet-related damage we have ever had reported was from locked-up working dogs. Other damage is typically caused by the people, not the pets.

PFR: Due to supply and demand, it’s likely that in  some cases, investors could get a greater weekly income for their property if they allowed pets? Do you think this could influence their decision?

Absolutely – Most landlords would take a risk for a few dollars more on their return.

Do you think changes in legislation that would enable a “Pet Bond” to be introduced would help make more properties pet friendly, as a way of helping investors feel like they had more protection against any damage caused?

The current bond of 4 weeks rent is adequate, but if I was a prospective tenant and I was willing to pay more if it helped me to obtain the property that I wanted, then yes I believe investors would be very interested.

PFR: What else do you think could be done to help improve the number of rentals that allow pets?

If agents could specify the type of pets allowed or not allowed.

PFR: Any further comments?

Unit complexes are the worst offenders so developers should provide for pets in their planning of units – if they did, I believe that their units would sell for a premium. Investors would also get a higher rental return in these ‘pet friendly designed’ units. So getting the message through that designing for pets and allowing pets can achieve both a higher rental return and sale price would I believe assist.

PFR: Thanks very much for joining us today Dennis.

It will be available from mid-March onwards at $170pw inc. elec, gas and broadband (excl. phone calls).

Contact Danny and Gemma for more information on  0405 766 822 .

Secondly – by request from many pet owners, you can now use the Pet Friendly Rentals Search Tool to search the ‘for sale’ sections of Real Estate.com.au and Domain.com.au – making it easier for you to find properties to buy that you know are suitable for both you and your pets.

Thirdly, whether searching for properties to rent or to buy, the Pet Friendly Rentals Search Tool now tells you when ‘no properties were found’ on the page you are searching – so you’re not left wondering if the extension has worked or if there are just no suitable properties on that page.

Our next task is to develop the search tool further so it can be used to search Homehound.com.au and MyHome.com.au and this will be happening in the coming months.