Renting a flat with a dog or cat

Do you have a dog or a cat and want to rent a flat? Unfortunately, it can prove quite a challenge. Renting a flat and pets don’t go hand in hand. Although the number of pet owners rises from year to year, people letting out their flats are still reluctant to accept them as tenants.

According to a TNS Polska report, 48% of Poles own some kind of animal, of whom 83% have a dog and 44% a cat. According to Eurostat, 16.5% of Poles – that is, almost 6 million 357 thousand people – rent flats, which means the market is far from stagnant. That is why, given the high demand for rental flats, pet owners encounter many difficulties when looking for a suitable place.

Landlords’ main concerns

As a rule, the higher the standard of the accommodation, the more a landlord shies away from the idea of having a pet in it. This state of affairs stems from concern about the condition of the flat, including the condition of the furniture and the distinctive smell of animals. However, the presence of a four-legged friend in a flat does not mean the destruction of its furnishings – most animals are well trained and know how to keep a room clean. Moreover, a flat can be wrecked not only by a pet, but also by its owner or by partying young people.

The whole truth about animals

Owners of four-legged friends looking for a flat assure the potential landlord in conversation that their pet is well behaved – and most often this proves true. Animals kept at home are trained, receive good-quality food and are in regular contact with a vet. They are rarely left to their own devices. It is true that dogs in particular can be noisy, which can be a nuisance for residents of a block of flats or a tenement house. Flat owners, however, very often have the false impression that a smaller dog means less trouble. In reality, big dogs are oases of calm, while small ones can spend long hours barking at every rustle outside the window. Of course, there are exceptions to the rule.

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Concerns about dogs

Landlords who are wary of letting flats to people with dogs usually believe that dogs may destroy furniture or make neighbours’ lives miserable with barking. That is why, before renting a place, it is worth talking to the landlord and inviting them to come and meet the dog and see that it behaves well indoors. You should then make sure the dog shows its best side.

Concerns about cats

The main reason why flat owners are not fond of cats is their distinctive smell. However, proper grooming of the animal and frequent emptying of the litter tray help to neutralise unwanted odours. Scratching of furniture and carpet will be prevented by a special scratching post and regular trimming of the claws. Cats don’t make noise, so there is no question of disturbing the neighbours. However, owners often have concerns about several cats – in this case, convincing the landlord to let the property to you can prove even more difficult.

SEE FLATS TO RENT IN KATOWICE

So how do you convince the landlord to rent to you?

A landlord may be persuaded by something as unexpected as the pet’s pedigree. Show animals carry more weight than pets found on the street or taken from a shelter. Landlords may also be swayed by the training the pet has completed and the temperament of a pedigree dog or cat. If the above methods fail, you can try negotiating the price. An extra 100 PLN added to the monthly rent can effectively persuade the landlord to let the property. It is also worth offering a higher security deposit for the flat.

Renting a flat with a pet can be a difficult task, so to save time and nerves it is worth handing it over to professionals. To find a suitable place for yourself and your four-legged friend, contact an agent at the Katowice estate agency REMAX Gold.