Hi Oz team,
Has anyone had any success dealing with landlords who said you can't have a pet on the property due to strata laws? No pet policy. Due to circumstances out of our control, we may need to have a small pet on our property.
NSW Strata - Pets
LMaccyboy1234 on 05/02/2020 - 16:14
Comments
No pet allowed
What did the landlord say…
Oh, you haven't asked yet. Of course.
Signed a rental agreement which says no pets, thought to ask us if you can have one. Sure, go get 10 cats, tell them a random OzBargainer said you could.
Oh, you haven't asked yet
The OP did say "dealing with landlords who said you can't", so the landlord has apparently already said no, and the landlord's reason was that strata rules do not allow pets.
Perhaps the OP can claim the pet is a companion/service animal - it appears that the landlord has no choice about that.
Perhaps the OP can claim the pet is a companion/service animal
ahh, yes sir.. this is my seeing-eye .. err.. rabbit!
Due to circumstances out of our control
Is a small animal forcing their way into your property? If so, I'm not sure strata will be happy to have an out of control animal on their property.
I'm curious to know what type of circumstances beyond your control would necessitate you having a small pet on your property? I am genuinely asking so I can think of a different solution to the problem.
What type of small pet?
A crawfish.
Chia pet
I heard it was loud. So a Trump Pet.
I think this is like the old lady who swallowed a fly. First you let a fly in then you let a spider then a bird, which animal are you up to OP?
And the landlords come rushing out of the woodwork. How dare you deign to ask such a question. You should be grateful that you are given the opportunity to live in the investment property of your superiors!
Projecting much? Not one person has said that.
Easy solution - don't live in someone else's property. Easier solution, stick to the agreements that you make.
Looks like landlord was accomodating your pet request with an indirect yes only if you get strata to approve your pet. So send your pet application to strata and then ask the landlord again.
Due to circumstances out of our control, we may need to have a small pet on our property.
WTF.
Out of your control?
The Cat waltzed in holding a Baretta insisting on the master bedroom?
stratas are crap. ask your landlord if theyd be okay if the strata approved, and then ask strata. they probably wont approve because they are crap, but you'll at least know if your landlord cares
If its a temporary thing, maybe just keep it kinda secret and find a better long term plan? strata basically only cares as much as the whiniest neighbour though, so you might get lucky if they are okay and the landlord is nice enough if they find out.
Few years back Mum bought a place in a small building with a no pets rule. We were gonna to live there just for a year or two, and intended to petition for a rule change to accommodate our small dog, which worst case would have at least bought plenty of time to make alternate arrangements and probably move out sooner if they were too difficult.
I think it was never formally approved (possibly because most other places were rented out/managed by an agency) but after a few months of trying not to be too obvious we had a dog, it was clear that everyone was fine with it. I think my mum ended up bringing it to informal strata meetings and everythingBit later I moved into a rental and wanted to babysit the dog just occasionally, but didn't have the same luck. No one said anything except one old lady who wasn't happy about it (and another neighbour who revealed they'd been hiding a cat for many years, but only from the old lady). So I didn't have the dog over (much)
Due to circumstances out of our control, we may need to have a small pet on our property.
Lol I call BS.
It's pretty easy to comprehend how this could happen.
eg. Elderly relative can't look after a pet anymore and is moving into a home. The options are put the animal up for adoption, where it will most likely end up euthanised or take it in.
The options are
So there are options?
OP could find another owner. Give to friend or other relative. No-kill shelters. Etc.
Hardly "need to" take any one specific action. Whenever someone words it like that, it's more often than not trying to disclaim their responsibility for their own decision.
Sometimes "needs" involve ethical decisions as well as practical.
@one man clan: A person's own ethical decisions are up to their discretion - that's why it's a decision.
If I were an ethical (not health-required) vegan, I can't say that I need a vegan diet. It's a choice.
Sometimes "needs" involve ethical decisions as well as practical.
I agree, but if OP would tell us what the exact circumstances are and what type of pet we are talking about, then we could think of alternate solutions to the problem that are both ethical and practical.
It would be very unusual if the only ethical solution was to have the pet live in OP's property. That is not even a practical solution since the strata laws don't allow it, and strata laws are not decided by the landlord as an individual.
OP has not given us enough information.
@wizzy: Agree with all of this.
The kneejerk reaction of the groupthink was basically questioning one element of the post (the requirement for the pet) rather than asking about the legal issues (whether there are ways around the strata laws, which there are).
whether there are ways around the strata laws, which there are
I'm just not interested in helping people get around their promises and responsibilities.
@HighAndDry: If the law allows it, then it allows it. Your views on personal responsibility don't come into it.
What does it say about pets in your lease?