Pets and renting a flat

Having a pet of your own is very popular. At some point in their lives, many people decide to buy or adopt a four-legged companion. A dog or cat of our own can bring more joy and unconditional love into our lives. But what if we cannot yet afford a flat of our own and live in rented accommodation? Keeping a pet in a rented flat can be problematic. What do you need to know about it? Find out in this article.

Many people who rent flats dream of having a dog or cat. A pet at home is, after all, pure joy. A dog motivates us to go for walks, while a cat will always come and purr when we feel sad.

Tenants are, however, aware that a pet can be a problem for landlords. That is why they often decide not to have a dog or cat, and if they do, they hide the fact from the owner of the flat. This is not the best solution, because when the landlord finds out about the unwanted resident, they may react in various ways that are not necessarily favourable to the tenant. So if you have a pet and decide to rent a flat, it is worth being honest. There are admittedly fewer landlords who accept pets, but that does not mean we will not be able to find a property that suits us and our companion.

Why do landlords refuse to allow a pet in the flat?

When browsing adverts for flats to rent, it is easy to notice that most of them state clearly that the owner does not allow pets in the home. This stems from a number of concerns. Above all, landlords fear that the animal will ruin the furniture, floors or carpets. Another problem is the characteristic smell, which, after a pet has spent a long time in the flat, soaks into the carpeting and sofas. The people who live there do not notice it, but newcomers can tell straight away from the smell that a dog or cat lives in the property.

Flat owners do not want to add further problems for themselves, which is why they so rarely agree to animals being kept in the flat. This in turn works against tenants who would like to have a pet of their own. How can these two concerns be reconciled?

Why is it worth allowing pets in a rented flat?

In fact, whether to allow a person with a dog or cat to rent a flat is entirely up to the owner of the property. We can state unequivocally that we do not agree to such an arrangement and even include a separate clause in the tenancy agreement that clearly sets out our attitude to four-legged animals in our property.

However, it is worth thinking twice before we make such a categorical decision. More and more tenants have pets, so the rental property market will gradually adapt to this state of affairs. We should also remember that a well-trained dog or cat will not wreck the flat at all, and as owners we can protect ourselves appropriately. How? For example, by requiring a higher security deposit from the tenant or obliging them to carry out specific tasks when vacating the flat, such as professional cleaning of furniture and carpets to remove the smell of the animal.

It is also worth stressing that tenants with a four-legged companion are often trustworthy residents who are looking for a home for the longer term. After all, nobody wants to put their pet through constant moves. This can be an advantage from the landlord's point of view if we want to let the property on a long-term basis.