There seems to be a love-hate relationship between Kiwis and pets. We love to own them, but we hate having them in our rental properties. If you've ever owned a furry friend and tried to find rental accommodation, you would know the feeling of frustration of scrolling through endless properties that coldly state "no pets".
New Zealand is home to more than 4.35 million companion animals. Yes, they almost outnumber people! 41% of NZ households have cats, a third own a dog, and 9% have fish. But our latest stats show that only 13% of properties currently advertised on myRent are specifically listed as "pet friendly". So there is definitely an opportunity there for landlords to re-consider their firm pet policy.
Reasons to be a pet-friendly landlord
- By deciding to go pet-friendly, you significantly increase your tenant selection pool. More choice is always better.
- Given that there is a limited number of pet-friendly properties available, tenants with pets are often happy to pay on average $20+ more per week for a suitable property.
- Finding the right pet-friendly home is hard. This means that tenants know when they're onto a good thing and will choose to stay longer.
- Pet-friendly properties are let out faster.
- No more tenants keeping pets a secret from landlords. By being aware of animals, you can take control back by including them in the tenancy agreement, with clear instructions, rules and restrictions on the type of pet allowed and where they can go in the property. It's always good to have control of the situation.
Reasons not to be a pet-friendly landlord
- Pets increase the likelihood of damage to your property. But, interestingly, some studies have shown that the cost of damage from pets was much smaller than the costs associated with tenants with children.
- Even if there is no damage, animals tend to wear the properties faster. This will, of course, depend on the type of pet.
- Pets can disturb neighbours. Just like pets, neighbours come in all shapes and sizes. There is no guarantee that even the most innocent miniature breed is not going to cause a problem.
- Allowing pets can lead to the potential loss of future tenants. For example, some people are allergic to dogs and cats, and if your previous tenant had a pet, allergens might have gotten into your place. It is possible to get rid of them, but it may be costly. Generally, tenants with pets may be more than happy to pay for this at the end of their tenancy to secure a place.
So what is the best approach?
Deciding to become a pet-friendly landlord is an individual choice. But there is a huge opportunity to significantly increase your tenant pool by considering people with pets without the need to lock yourself into a pet-particular category.
Access your property for the type of pet your house might be best suitable for
Not all properties are pet-friendly. For some landlords - accepting pets is not an option. Some body corp rules prohibit pets in rentals, and some properties are positioned too close to neighbours, which might cause unnecessary conflicts. But usually, most properties can accept some pets. You can start with birds, fish, rabbits, guinea pigs. Or you can make a few minor improvements to make your house more suitable for cats and dogs:
- Fencing the garden, putting a temporary fence to create a separate safe area outside;
- Installing a doggy/cat door for easy access;
- Adding grass to your garden.
Properties with tiles or floorboards are more suited to indoor pets as they are easier to keep clean than carpet.
Set expectations and clear rules with your tenants about pets
The best thing to do is to consider each tenant with pets on a case-by-case basis. For peace of mind, you can ask to see a pet reference, meet the pet, talk to previous landlords about their experience during reference checks, talk to the applicants about who looks after their pet when they're away on extended trips or during work hours.
Remember renting to tenants with pets is about tenants, not about pets. You can get a good idea during the screening process if the applicants are responsible and genuine people who care for their animals and the homes they live in.
Add extra clauses to the tenancy agreement:
- You can specify the number of pets allowed, pet type, breed, and even specific animal by name. If anything were to happen to the animal, the tenants would need to re-apply to have a replacement pet.
- You can ask your tenants to clean/pick up after their pets promptly and regularly.
- You could ask tenants to notify you immediately if the pet caused any damage. So you can address and fix things quickly.
Open and transparent communication helps maintain a good relationship with tenants and may encourage them to uphold their rental and pet agreement.
Make sure you check your current insurance
Not all insurances are created equal. Make sure your insurance policy covers pet damage to avoid unexpected surprises down the track.
The information contained in this article is exclusively for promotional purposes. It does not in any way constitute legal advice and should not be relied upon as the basis for any legal action or contractual dealings. The information is not and does not attempt to be, a comprehensive account of the relevant law in New Zealand. If you require legal advice, you should seek independent legal counsel. myRent.co.nz does not accept any liability that may arise from the use of this information.
