Renting with a dog

stuboy01

I will be looking for a rented house (family) in a few months and we are considering getting a dog in the next few weeks. Has anyone any experience of trying to rent with a dog? does it put landlords off?
Experiences needed before i decide to get a dog.
thanks.

fussyonion

I would have said a dog would be very off-putting for a Landlord.

CD8ED

It's hard to get a place with a dog, but daft.ie have a pet allowed filter. Use this and hope for the best. Good luck with the search buddy.

Eric Cartman

its hard to get a decent rental even without a dog. Don't do it. My advice to anyone renting is do not get a pet, it makes things very very difficult.

Miaireland

A no pets clause seems to be common in a lot of lease agreements. You could be limited you choice of places by having a pet. I would wait until I have found a place before I consider getting a pet.

In the current climate where people are queuing up for places to rent I don't see why any Landlord would allow pets, particularly if they are kept in the house.

doolox

We are living in a very difficult market for renters at the moment. Any thing that imbues risk is to be avoided at all costs. Unfortunately Landlords see pets and dogs in particular as trouble and potential causes of damage, noise, annoyed neighbours, public order risks etc. and will rent to a non-pet person instead.

In the context of short term leases, < 1 yr, the landlord feels obliged to obliterate all evidence of a dog as many renters do not like dog hairs, damage etc on the property when they come to rent. Such redecoration and repair costs money.Same applies to smokers and people involved in potentially messy trades where there is a risk of soilage or damage. A landlord will readily rent to a professional or clerical worker in preference to a builder or garage worker and will refuse students if there is a risk of parties and late night rowdiness.

As a single young man I remember colleagues of mine having a hard time getting house shares because of the reputation of our workplace for rowdy parties and boisterous lifestyle while the local teachers and bankers etc had no problem picking up house shares. Some occupations have a worse reputation than others in the eyes of landlords and SW recipients worst of all.

It is best to keep as much info to yourself when renting and be as vague as possible about job etc to avoid discrimination.

the_syco

Mate was going to move in with his GF (only GF in hte house, and rent was increasing). Mate has a dog. GF's LL said dog would have to stay outside, so mate didn't move in with the GF. Mates GF has since left said house.

LL's want dogs to stay outside. But bored dogs will bark outside. And thus neighbours complain to landlord, and landlord brings in a "no dogs" rule for the next tenant.

As such, don't get a dog if renting. Perhaps get something fluffy that lives in a cage?

MikeCairo78

I have been renting with dog in four different homes in last few years. We were up front and had clause inserted into agreement in respect of the same. We have used same letting agent for each rental which was in our favour. Doable but if I had choice I wouldn't get dog (this was choice of other half) as it does severely limit options. Good luck with it

Arbiter of Good Taste

As a landlord and a dog owner, I would definitely not rent to anyone with a pet - cat or dog. As a puppy, our dog chewed on the couch, on a side table, on the skirting board, on the rug - do you get where I am coming from? Why would a landlord want to risk that kind of damage? The average deposit is not going to cover it, and even if it did, who wants the hassle?

To the poster to advised you to wait until after you move in - as most leases likely have a no pets clause, this is a recipe for eviction

stuboy01

Thanks all, Much appreciated and as I thought.

Panda_Turtle

Not fair on dogs this attitude of landlords.

Could provide an option of an increased deposit for potential dog related damage to accommodate dog owners.

Michael D Not Higgins

Panda_Turtle wrote: »

Not fair on dogs this attitude of landlords.

Could provide an option of an increased deposit for potential dog related damage to accommodate dog owners.

It's a landlord's market. If you have two potential tenants and they're the same except one has a dog, why go out of your way to accommodate the dog?

Panda_Turtle

Michael D Not Higgins wrote: »

It's a landlord's market. If you have two potential tenants and they're the same except one has a dog, why go out of your way to accommodate the dog?

Because I like dogs.

athtrasna

Panda_Turtle wrote: »

Because I like dogs.

And it's the landlord 's property. They can let it to whoever they want to. It's not unfair, it's how it is

Panda_Turtle

athtrasna wrote: »

And it's the landlord 's property. They can let it to whoever they want to. It's not unfair, it's how it is

A hypothetical question was asked of me, to put myself in the shoes of a landlord. Why would I go out of my way as a landlord to a dog owner.

And that is my answer. Because I like dogs.

endacl

Panda_Turtle wrote: »

Because I like dogs.

Me too. If I was a LL though, no chance. Not a hope.

The_Morrigan

Panda_Turtle wrote: »

A hypothetical question was asked of me, to put myself in the shoes of a landlord. Why would I go out of my way as a landlord to a dog owner.

And that is my answer. Because I like dogs.

You're not living there though - you are however responsible for the state of the property if and when that dog owner leaves and you are faced with presenting the property to new tenants.
You then must have the place deep cleaned, possibly upgrade/change furniture, repaint, potentially have to change carpets if any accidents have occurred etc.

It is not the same level* of handover as those who do not have pets.


*assumption is made that this is a normal tenancy, not a troublesome one with excess damage.

Miramar

Firstly I am a landlord and secondly I am a dog lover........
But recently my love of dogs has been tested.....
I have, absolutely no problem with anyone who rents a property and has a dog but they must also respect the landlord and his/her rented property.....

Beware all landlords of a female who travels around the country and has a large amount of very large dogs and some smaller dogs also, some similar breeds and other mixed breeds....
This person will act all nice and plausible, says that they have one or two dogs and then subsequently moves in with up to 18 dogs into your property along with themselves, destroying the whole inside of the house, dogs living in Absolute Squalor, hoarding and housing dogs and rubbish, using your property as an indoor kennel and allowing dogs to defalcate and wee everywhere upstairs and downstairs, destroying furniture and fittings, not allowing a landlord to inspect the property after numerous requests as per a rental contract.........
Squats in a property for months without paying any rent whatsoever......
BEWARE........ BEWARE........... BEWARE......

GreatDefector

Bit OT but a dog pooped in the lift in our apartment at the weekend. The owners kindly left it for someone else to clean (found at 9am and still there when I reported it to management at 2pm) The caretaker cleaned it but it was still pretty bad

The stench is unreal in the lift. We're also moving out and I personally had to sterilse the lift floor. Not a hope we were putting out bags/boxes on that floor

Absolutely disgraceful behaviour and dogs should definitely not be kept in apartments.

If this is the behaviour of some I can see exactly why cats/dogs are not allowed. The landlord I'm sure will be getting a phone call from the management company. Why would anyone want that hassle

Big trouble for the tenant if he didn't mention the dog before signing the lease

Arbiter of Good Taste

GreatDefector wrote: »

Bit OT but a dog pooped in the lift in our apartment at the weekend. The owners kindly left it for someone else to clean (found at 9am and still there when I reported it to management at 2pm) The caretaker cleaned it but it was still pretty bad

The stench is unreal in the lift. We're also moving out and I personally had to sterilse the lift floor. Not a hope we were putting out bags/boxes on that floor

Absolutely disgraceful behaviour and dogs should definitely not be kept in apartments.

If this is the behaviour of some I can see exactly why cats/dogs are not allowed. The landlord I'm sure will be getting a phone call from the management company. Why would anyone want that hassle

Big trouble for the tenant if he didn't mention the dog before signing the lease

Some people are worse than animals

Not a NSA agent

Most places wont allow pets. I'm in a similar situation where me and my girlfriend want to get a cat although will probably be a few years before we do.

Best thing to do is wait until you have lived in a place for awhile and ask the LL if it would be ok offering a larger deposit amount (could even make it non returned to cover the cost of getting the place properly cleaned when you leave). I wouldnt get a pet if you plan on moving soon.

Pkiernan

Panda_Turtle wrote: »

Not fair on dogs this attitude of landlords.

Could provide an option of an increased deposit for potential dog related damage to accommodate dog owners.

So, when are you buying a buy-to-let for frustrated dog owners?
Thay way you can be fair to dogs ffs.

OP - dont get the dog if you are renting.

BlueFairy

I've never understood the attitudes of landlords in Ireland about tenants with pets. Put a clause in the lease where the tenant accepts responsibility for replacing or repairing anything that the pet might damage, or take a separate pet deposit which is a common thing in other countries.

Polo_Mint

Ive lived in 3 places that accepted dogs ( I have 2 )

I never had issues and always got my deposit back when leaving.

As you have a few months, Look around

athtrasna

BlueFairy wrote: »

I've never understood the attitudes of landlords in Ireland about tenants with pets. Put a clause in the lease where the tenant accepts responsibility for replacing or repairing anything that the pet might damage, or take a separate pet deposit which is a common thing in other countries.

Or don't accept tenants with pets.

Polo_Mint

athtrasna wrote: »

Or don't accept tenants with pets.

The same with Rent Supplement, Cant be taking any chances, should we, Same with Kids

athtrasna

Polo_Mint wrote: »

The same with Rent Supplement, Cant be taking any chances, should we, Same with Kids

Landlords' property, landlords' call

Polo_Mint

athtrasna wrote: »

Landlords' property, landlords' call

I agree. Ive had dogs with no issues, I think renting with dogs is easier then people think

riffmongous

It's very common in a lot of other countries to have dogs/cats in apartments, I think the problem with Ireland is landlords providing all the furniture/furnishings compared to other places where everything will belong to the tenant, so any damage from the pets is only going to cost the tenants

skallywag

riffmongous wrote: »

It's very common in a lot of other countries to have dogs/cats in apartments, I think the problem with Ireland is landlords providing all the furniture/furnishings compared to other places where everything will belong to the tenant, so any damage from the pets is only going to cost the tenants

I think you have hit the nail on the head there in that Irish rental properties are typically furnished which is not the norm certainly within the majority of the EU.

As much as I like animals myself I would also certainly side with an Irish LL here though, I know first hand what carnage they can cause on house furnishings!

athtrasna

riffmongous wrote: »

It's very common in a lot of other countries to have dogs/cats in apartments, I think the problem with Ireland is landlords providing all the furniture/furnishings compared to other places where everything will belong to the tenant, so any damage from the pets is only going to cost the tenants

It's also very common for pets to be banned in Irish apartment developments, meaning landlords have no choice. High density living in Irish builds is not compatible with pet ownership.

Get a rescue dog that's a little older. More likely to be somewhat house trained and unlikely to chew things. I live in an apartment and have a rescue dog. The landlord asked on day one if we had one (we didn't at the time) and said it was fine if we wanted one. He loves dogs himself. We considered it for a while. I desperately wanted one as I've always had dogs around but my partner was worried about a pup chewing up all the LLs furniture. So we adopted a young dog (just under 1 year) who was over the dreaded chewing phase. We have never had one ounce of trouble with her in the apartment and the LL adores her! We are in the latter stages of buying a house now and will be leaving the apartment in the same pristine condition we found it in.

hardCopy

Deleted User wrote: »

Get a rescue dog that's a little older. More likely to be somewhat house trained and unlikely to chew things. I live in an apartment and have a rescue dog. The landlord asked on day one if we had one (we didn't at the time) and said it was fine if we wanted one. He loves dogs himself. We considered it for a while. I desperately wanted one as I've always had dogs around but my partner was worried about a pup chewing up all the LLs furniture. So we adopted a young dog (just under 1 year) who was over the dreaded chewing phase. We have never had one ounce of trouble with her in the apartment and the LL adores her! We are in the latter stages of buying a house now and will be leaving the apartment in the same pristine condition we found it in.

We also have a very accommodating landlord. We didn't have a dog when we moved in but asked him before we signed the lease if it would be OK to get one later in the year and he had no problem. Our dog has done some damage to a disused TV cable in the back garden but that's about it and will be made right before we leave.