How many lie about their dog to secure a rental?

Geekomatic on 03/04/2015 - 21:08

I'm asking for a friend. He's looking for a rental in WA. He has his "baby", a king Charles cavalier/Maltese, going with him. The dog is indoors only (other than toilet)— well groomed (professionally) well cared for.

The issue is the rental contracts all seem to stipulate that the dog must remain "outdoors" on the properties he's viewed.

My poll here is this:

How many here have been in this situation & simply lied & said the dog is an outdoor dog in order to get the rental & then put him outside on the inspection days?

Just trying to gage how important or not this point is to the realtors?

Ta.

Poll Options expired

  • 6
    Depends. Any chance I can sneak him out on inspection day?
  • 6
    I have, no biggie
  • 15
    Never, wouldn't risk the ire of the realtor
Home & Garden

Comments

  • altomic on 03/04/2015 - 21:50
    +5

    i lied about my dog not smoking….

    • Geekomatic on 03/04/2015 - 22:12

      Lol,

      Interesting, but not quite answering the question.

      I mean, with all of the dog owners in AU in rentals- are you seriously saying "every, single, renter" only rented a property which specified dogs indoors okay?

      Cheers

      • kryngg on 03/04/2015 - 22:59

        What was he on about T?

    • c64 on 04/04/2015 - 10:20
      +1

      i'd be really annoyed at smoking in a rental. it leaves a layer of carcinogenic residue over everything.

  • [Deactivated] on 03/04/2015 - 22:20
    +3

    I lied, but not over a dog. Rented a place that was 'no pets'. I kept a rabbit indoors free-ranging like a dog. I'd had the rabbit for 5 years elsewhere by that point so I knew that rabbit well enough to know it wasn't going to be a problem in terms of him destroying anything - he was a very well behaved bunny. Litter trained etc.

    I hid him in the wardrobe on inspection day :)

    Never had an issue. But I wouldn't necessarily recommend that others take the same risk..

  • kryngg on 03/04/2015 - 23:06
    +2

    I am the friend with the dog, all the properties are pets considered, and I wouldn't lie about having the dog there. I'd just omit the truth about the dog being inside, and leave him outside on inspection days.

    Realators are unable to just show up without prior notice.

  • Cheeper on 03/04/2015 - 23:56
    +2

    It is usually detectable when a pet it kept inside, especially a dog moreso than a cat.
    They may just warn you the first time but a second time may mean you are looking for another place quick smart.
    Fortunately most rea's are fairly slack and don't worry about what they don't see.

    • kryngg on 04/04/2015 - 00:35

      Thank you for taking the time to give an informative response, greatly appriciated.

  • sempro on 04/04/2015 - 00:40
    +1

    could you say your dog is a 'furkid'?

  • RyanMK on 04/04/2015 - 02:59
    +2

    I wouldn't recommend it.

    As some have mentioned, your friend could bring the dog in, and just leave him outside on inspection days. But that's only if his dog is fully house trained and would not go around trying to destroy/damage stuff around the house.

    However, it really boils down to how attentive the agent doing the routine inspection is. For example, some of the visitors that come to my house notice a 'doggy smell', some notice the fur on the staircase, while there are visitors who notice nothing at all. And by my standards, I keep the house decently clean. Not to mention during inspection, he would not only have to leave the dog outside, but also hide their food bowls, toys, beds etc. I've had a number of different agents over the years, and yes, you do get the ones that can't be bothered, but you do also sometimes get the ones who has a keen eye for details, noticing things that even I don't. And bear in mind, agents can change over the duration of your contract.

    Also consider if his dog barks a lot. Would it annoy the neighbour? What if you get a neighbour that makes a complaint to the strata/council and the agent finds out? What happens then? Is he going to cancel his contract early? Move the dog somewhere else permanently? It's all factors he has to consider and think about.

    I am renting myself with a dog. And I understand how frustrating it can be to look for a pet friendly accommodation. Start the search early, be persistent, expand the search area, look at places that aren't your preferred suburbs. It's all part & parcel of owning a pet and renting. I find that with some of the ads online that mention 'dogs are to be outdoor only', or 'cats only', if you mention that you just have a small dog, they are happy to make an exception.

    I'm not saying your friend isn't a responsible pet owner. But it is the very fact that there are a lot of tenants out there who either lie or are irresponsible owners, that puts landlords off from advertising their place as pet friendly.

    Good luck with the search!

  • Geekomatic on 04/04/2015 - 03:28

    Thanks all,

    Good to have the feedback. Please continue to post if you have a story of your own!

    Ta!

  • lenlynn on 04/04/2015 - 10:45

    Depends on how often he will have an inspection? I have kept rats and a cat in a rental apartment, all indoor free-range. I only have inspections 1-2x a year though so that's not too troublesome to hide the stuff and the animals.

    I got the animals after I rented the place.

  • Randxyz123 on 04/04/2015 - 11:17

    I wouldn't really recommend it. It can be obvious sometimes if a dog lives there. Doggy smell etc. Especially if the agent has a dog themselves.

  • loulou1 on 04/04/2015 - 11:19
    +2

    I own an investment property. We put on the ad that small outdoor pets may be approved. In reality. The real estate said they can not enforce that the pets stay outside when they are not inspecting the property, they can't watch the property 24 hours a day. However, any tenant who has an animal is expected to do a pest treatment upon vacating and of course fix any damage that may have been caused by their animal. The carpets also have to be cleaned. As a property owner, don't think I would be too pleased with a Great Dane or Saint bernard being an indoor dog though.
    Our current tenants have two small 'outdoor' dogs but I am well aware that they are indoor dogs. The tenant has never tried to hide the fact and I do not have an issue with it. I would rather tenants who look after my property with two small indoor animals, then tenants who could care less about looking after my property with no animals at all.

    • Randxyz123 on 04/04/2015 - 12:49

      Great Danes and Saint Bernards make perfectly fine indoor dogs haha

      • loulou1 on 04/04/2015 - 12:59
        +1

        They would make better tenants than some 'humans'

    • kryngg on 04/04/2015 - 17:04

      The breed of dog is a King Charles Cavalier X Maltese as mentioned.

      • loulou1 on 04/04/2015 - 18:13
        +1

        Should have been clearer, I was just speaking generally in terms of breed of dog, I was aware that you had mentioned the breed of the dog in your situation. I, as a landlord, would have no problem with that type of dog.

        • kryngg on 07/04/2015 - 15:09
          +1

          Thank you! :) your response cheers me up a bit.

  • Tcm9669 on 04/04/2015 - 19:23

    Funny thing I was told by my real estate agent. Whether you lie or not, landlord can't do anything unless pet damages the house. Vcat says it's an Australians right to own pets, and that's that.

  • Dave-o on 17/06/2015 - 13:04

    The main concern for a landlord is their property is looked after. That's why most rentals are "no pets", and more lenient landlords will allow pets (in this case outdoors only). If you say your dog will remain outdoors, but once you're living there, show the landlord you're responsible and look after the property, but have the dog indoors, then they'll probably be fine with it.

    By the way… might be renting out my house in Scarborough in a couple of months, pets allowed in or out :)

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