Renting with Pet Cats

Jackdawson79 on 16/06/2024 - 23:41
Last edited 17/06/2024 - 07:52 by 1 other user

Hi l plan to look for a rental house next year.

have two pet cats l want to take with me, they are well behaved and have never caused any damage to my house and l clean up well after them, a couple of friends l spoke said when l apply for a rental house it's best just not to mention l have cats as it could reduce my chances of finding a place and if l bring the cats with me the landlord would never know.

l would just keep them in a garage or shed or an outdoor enclosure where there would be no chance of them causing any damage or mess. l am not sure what to do, how much trouble would l be in if the landlord found out l had cats, would there be some sort of penalty like a fine or could my lease be terminated and have to leave.

Home & Garden

Comments

  • Hybroid on 16/06/2024 - 23:46
    +2

    There is no term in the Residential Tenancies Act 2010 that prohibits you from keeping a pet, or that requires you to ask for your landlord’s consent before you keep a pet. However, many landlords will include a clause restricting pets in the residential tenancy agreement (i.e. your lease), and there is no specific ban on them doing so.

    https://www.tenants.org.au/resource/guide-renting-pets-nsw

    Can my landlord evict me or my pet? Yes – if your landlord has refused permission to have a pet or you haven't asked, and you keep a pet, then you may be breaking your rental agreement. If you are, your landlord may ask you to remove the pet or move out of the property.

    https://www.nsw.gov.au/housing-and-construction/strata/livin…

  • Jackdawson79 on 16/06/2024 - 23:48
    -1

    THanks, l am in victoria if that makes any difference, l think there a law that a landlord cannot refuse pets.
    When l sign the lease form is there a question asking if l have pets that l have to answer

    • Hybroid on 16/06/2024 - 23:52
      +2

      That would have been helpful to clarify. Sounds like the onus to declare them is on the renter in Vic. They can refuse but need a 'good reason' to do so.

      Renters who want to have a pet in the property must ask their rental provider (landlord) for permission.

      Rental providers must have a good reason to refuse the renter’s request. Rental providers can apply to VCAT for an order to refuse permission.

      Also:

      If a rental provider reasonably believes a renter is keeping a pet without their consent, they can apply to VCAT for an order to exclude the pet from the property.

      https://www.consumer.vic.gov.au/housing/renting/repairs-alte…

      • Jackdawson79 on 17/06/2024 - 08:56

        Thanks so if my cats were discovered they could have my cats removed but could they also terminate my lease and l would have to leave or would that be unlikely if there is no damage caused by the cats

    • Iwantthebestprice on 16/06/2024 - 23:54

      If you’re in Victoria just don’t say anything and you will be fine. When I was renting when I was younger I always had a cat or two and over 7 years of renting was never called out for it, agent never knew I had one or questioned if I did. When they come do an inspection just put your cats in a cage in your car or whatever. If you mention having 2 cats on an application, in this market, you will get looked over.

      Worst part, if the agent finds out somehow, just say your cat sitting for a family member or you just got them, but expect for your lease to not be renewed.

      No you cannot be fined

  • AustriaBargain on 16/06/2024 - 23:56
    +6

    Just do what the rest of us do, and lie. Hide the cats during inspections.

    • jv on 17/06/2024 - 09:46
      -3

      Hide the cats during inspections.

      Not hard to tell if a cat's been in the premises.

      • scovid on 17/06/2024 - 14:25
        +1

        Maybe if you live in shit. Clean up after yourself and your pets and it won't be noticed.

        • jv on 17/06/2024 - 14:32
          +1

          it won't be noticed.

          Nah, can always tell if a cat has been around…

    • Ghost47 on 18/06/2024 - 19:19

      Fighting fire with fire.

  • UrbanLegend on 17/06/2024 - 00:40

    I've never had any issues with declaring my cat on the rental application form.

  • OMGJL on 17/06/2024 - 00:49

    I am currently renting with my wife and 2 cats in NSW.

    what I observed is with a few applications I've applied; I always get contacted first by the agent (yes I have stated nice and clear that I have 2 cats)

    What I also observed is there's more landlord hating dogs more than cats (I guess dogs have higher chance causing damage, whereas cats usually don't cause damage to the property itself).

    I don't know exactly what makes us stand out, nor I have any idea what sort of applications they got other than mine. I am guessing it's one of the following:

    Double Income no Kid. Our income isn't particularly high, I am on Junior Dev salary which is about legally lowest for Dev (that's a separate story to say about the job market and contract I signed, but this will improve hugely soon after contract ends) and wife works in retail, her wage isn't high either.

    Owns a house in different state still have mortgage, but not that much, and it's rented out too.

    Have saving in offset account don't want to specify the number, but enough to cover my mortgage and rent even if we both out of job for the next year or 2 if we spend wisely.

    My personal details (on realestate.com.au) was well structured, and proofread by ChatGPT, that might also helped.

    I hope my story can help, good luck renting!

    • AustriaBargain on 17/06/2024 - 01:03

      I heard landlords don't like pet birds because they land on top of curtains and pick at them.

      • OMGJL on 17/06/2024 - 02:21
        +1

        I personally don't like pet birds, simply because they can't hold their poop…

        • Jolakot on 17/06/2024 - 10:54

          They can absolutely hold their poop, just requires training like any other animal. A family friend had a parrot that would poop on command, they just waited until it pooped before opening the cage, then the bird started pooping when it wanted to be let out, and then they attached that behavior to the word "potty". They even trained it to only poop in an old blue-ribbon tub to make cleaning easier. That bird was probably smarter than most dogs.

          • OMGJL on 17/06/2024 - 11:05
            +1

            @Jolakot: quotes from internet:

            Birds do not have a rectum like mammals do. Instead, they have a cloaca, which is a single exit point for the digestive, urinary, and reproductive systems. Because of this anatomical structure, birds do not have the capacity to hold their feces for long periods like mammals.

            The cloaca serves as a common chamber and opening for the digestive, urinary, and reproductive tracts, and it opens when the bird needs to expel waste. This means that birds typically defecate frequently and cannot control their bowel movements in the way that animals with a rectum can. They tend to defecate soon after eating, as their digestive system works relatively quickly.

            While some birds, such as certain types of parrots, can learn to control when and where they poop to some extent (usually through training in captivity), the general physiology of birds does not include a rectum, and they are biologically inclined to release waste frequently.

            • Jolakot on 17/06/2024 - 12:02
              +1

              @OMGJL:

              birds do not have the capacity to hold their feces for long periods

              So they're not incontinent, they just can't hold it for more than a few minutes, fair enough

  • KatieInAus on 17/06/2024 - 08:58
    +1

    I spent most of my 20s hiding my cats every time there was an inspection in my apartment and was never called out for it, but I was also a very good tenant. I kept everything very clean, did most repairs myself, and always paid rent on time.

    In my current place, I wrote a cover letter detailing I had cats and a dog, provided references from my previous houses, and made note of the fact I had my own carpet cleaner and took great care in constant maintenance of carpets specifically. I had no questions about my pets at all. I am much more comfortable now in my house than I was knowing I had to hide my cats anytime someone came to my apartment.

  • Jolakot on 17/06/2024 - 10:27

    Don't put them on the lease application, most landlords are getting dozens of good applications and will use any arbitrary reason like pets for the shortlist.

    Hiding them is an option, especially for cats, but in Victoria you can also use the new laws to make it legal with minimal hassle.

    After a few months send them a Pet Request form (https://www.consumer.vic.gov.au/housing/renting/repairs-alte…) for each pet, you're 'adopting' them from an ex-housemate or ex-partner who is moving interstate. They have 2 weeks to file a VCAT case (hand them the forms at 4pm Friday before a long weekend for maximum effect), which involves them paying a fee and filling out a bunch of annoying paperwork. If they don't respond with a VCAT case number in that 2 weeks, regardless of what they say or complaints they give, then you have de-facto permission that they cannot revoke.

    My partner used to work at VCAT, they literally had a giant filing cabinet called the Pet Shop because it was filled to bursting with non-urgent pet dispute cases (no damage, unrestricted breed, no nuisance complaints etc) that would likely never be heard as the backlog was over 2 years at that point with no plans to work through them. They're only seen when there's literally nothing else on the docket, including gaps for urgent hearings, so in reality there's only a few heard in a month.

  • altomic on 17/06/2024 - 12:45
    +2

    use your cats name on the lease form as the leasee.

    that way if you need to break the lease then they will have to chase up with the cat for any penalty payments.

    your cat just declares bankruptcy.

    hashtag LIFEHACK.

    • jv on 17/06/2024 - 13:44
      +2

      use your cats name on the lease form as the leasee.

      They are required to sign the lease and need to be 18+ years old…

      • altomic on 17/06/2024 - 17:05
        +1

        1 human year = 7 cat years.

        so you just need a car that is older than 2.5 years.

        • jv on 17/06/2024 - 17:08
          -1

          1 human year = 7 cat years.

          Rental agreements are in human years.

          • altomic on 17/06/2024 - 19:32
            +2

            @jv: where does it say that?

  • tsunamisurfer on 17/06/2024 - 12:48

    Please be open and honest with the REA / LL.

    If you tell my REA that you have no pets and we find out that you have Cats from Day 1, you can expect to be breached and looking for new accommodation.

  • Jackdawson79 on 18/06/2024 - 09:19

    THanks for your comments, lm not sure what to do, some people say l should be honest and say l have cats when l apply and others say its best not to mention l have cats because if l do it might make it harder to find a rental house

    • Ghost47 on 18/06/2024 - 19:20

      In this day and age honesty gets you nowhere. It's sad but it's the bitter truth.

  • arislan on 20/06/2024 - 19:34

    If the landlords find out they can terminate your contract and potentially retain your deposit.

    Best is to ask the landlords prior - some would allow it. If it is an apartment with strata by-laws that disallow pets, you'll have to move on or take the risk of the above.

  • Jackdawson79 on 24/06/2024 - 12:29

    If l am honest about the cats , not an apartment, but a house with a backyard, if l say l will keep the cats in an outdoor portable enclosure, how much more difficult would it make it to find a rental, would most be OK with it or would most not want them

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