Why don't landlords accept pets in Ireland?

fun loving criminal

As a pet owner, I am owning up to my responsibilities and if that includes professional cleaning at the end of tenancy or an extra deposit, that is ok with me. At least they can write up a lease knowing what is expected of me while owning a pet in a rental.

But a landlord have their pick with people and can choose someone that can hide the fact they smoke. And cigarette smoke can ruin their property as well.

How is this fair? And will this ever change in Ireland to allow pets in rental properties?

RichardAnd

Some landlords will. My previous housemate had a cat, and it was never a problem. It depends on the person.

As for why it tends to be proscribed here, well I think it's a cultural thing. Over in Italy, it's common to see dogs in restaurants and bars, and I personally know more than a few Italians who have pets in rented accommodation. Here in Ireland, we're just not really like that.

Xander10

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058207341/why-dont-landlords-accept-pets-in-ireland

With a house and garden it shouldn't be an issue. However, in Apt complexes, it's more about avoiding the hassle of neighbours complaining

Caranica

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117845855#Comment_117845855

In many apartment complexes it's against development rules.

Del2005

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058207341/why-dont-landlords-accept-pets-in-ireland

I'd say mostly because the quango with the job of regulating the rental sector is blatantly anti landlord. So if a pet damages the landlords property there is no way of getting a satisfactory result for the landlord if the tenant doesn't want to pay, regardless of what contract they signed.

Irish health regulations are tougher than Italian so you can't have animals in a food service area, the biggest profit margins are on food so business don't want to loose money by allowing pets in.

PSFarrell

I'm a director of the management company in the apartment complex where I live and dogs are a major source of tension. With people working from home noise complaints have gone up drastically. Lots of letters to landlords requesting their tenants remove dogs and if they refuse we then exercise fines per the development rules agreed at the members AGM. It's a lot easier for a landlord just to bar pets.

whippet

firstly - there are more willing tenants than there are places to rent. Landlords will always prudently try to ensure they have the best possible tenant with the least risk - so most landlords will see pets as a negative when looking at potential tenants.

Secondly - as pointed out before - any special agreement that you may want to put in place regarding cleaning etc - may as well be written on toilet paper and flushed down the toilet as the Irish system is skewed in such a way that a landlord has little or no recourse to be compensated by anything a tenant does.

whisky_galore

Same reason landlords turn away certain categories of people, less perceived risk of trashing the place.

fun loving criminal

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117845940#Comment_117845940

That's the thing, how about people smoking? That's easier to hide, but the smell smokers leave behind is disgusting and sticks to everything. So how does a landlord make sure the people they choose don't smoke?

At least I'm being upfront and trying to be responsible and we're not all bad tenants.

But going by this I should probably hide my cat.

Discodog

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117845873#Comment_117845873

A friend of mine lives in a new apartment in Finland on the sixth floor. Pets are welcome & quite a few tenants have dogs.

But then again they also have lots of dog parks where people can let their dog off the lead safely.

Darc19

The issue is too many people not having the appropriate dog, not giving a damn about others and not training them well.

(I have 2 dogs)

So you will have people in apartments getting happy dogs or dogs that are too boisterous, or renters who don't respect the property because it's not theirs.

These people ruin it for people who don't abuse the property

I’ve never allowed pets in properties I rent, nor indeed in the Airbnb rental I have, it’s a deal breaker. There is virtually no hope whatsoever of me recovering unpaid rent, never mind the cost of damage done by pets. It’s all about reducing risk.

Mrs OBumble

As a LL, I allow cats - because I had one, and its unfurnished. Goldfish and pet birds are fine too.

But I would never allow a dog, or any other four legged animal too dumb to be trained to use a litter box.

whisky_galore

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117845991#Comment_117845991

Being Finland, it's a fair bet that people are more responsible for their dogs than here.

Mad_maxx

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117845991#Comment_117845991

Irish people are bad pet owners ,always have been

piplip87

It must be a big town thing. I have never had a problem finding place with my dog. Personally I don't think dogs should be allowed in apartments at all. It's not fair on the dog.

fun loving criminal

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117846839#Comment_117846839

What if I can prove that I look after my pet through insurance, microchipping and 4 years worth of vaccination records?

That proves I look after my pet and prove that I'm a responsible person. So responsible enough to look after a property as well.

Sierra Oscar

I previously rented a property to a tenant who had a number of cats. I'm a fan of cats myself and the tenant was lovely, plus it was at a time when it was a renters market. In anycase when she moved out I had to replace all of the carpets due to damage caused by the cats, clearly worn and torn in parts. Now the tenant was there for four years in fairness and I didn't mind too much, I would be doing a bit of work on the place regardless. The carpets were new when she moved in though. Nowadays it would just be less hassle overall to insist no cats / dogs living inside.

ByTheSea2019

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117846880#Comment_117846880

Yeah, I really wonder about this. There's a couple in the same apartment block as me with some really large breed of dog (I don't know anything about dogs). They take it out for walks, but I don't know if they can exercise it enough through that alone. The lift smells a bit of wet dog after they've been in it for a few seconds up and down so I wonder what the apartment that the dog stays in all the time must smell like.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117846957#Comment_117846957

Why take the risk?

fun loving criminal

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117847086#Comment_117847086

But you're taking a risk on someone else as well. I don't think you will ever get the ideal tenant, like I said there's so much that smokes and that is hidden more easily and smoke leaves damage as well.

But I'm being upfront and can offer an extra deposit and get professional cleaning after the tenancy to cover any potential damage.

But the way how things are, I'm better off lying.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117847187#Comment_117847187

You are correct, there is always risk, but the risk of damage caused by pets is negated by refusing them.

fun loving criminal

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117847301#Comment_117847301

Do you refuse people with kids as well? To be safe like.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117847306#Comment_117847306

No, kids are not pets.

DoctorEdgeWild

Some landlords do, some don't. It's their property so, within reason, their rules.

I rent from a dog friendly owner, so no idea how I'd feel if I was a landlord, but I suspect I'd probably take that risk away by not letting tenants keep cats or dogs.

fun loving criminal

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117847316#Comment_117847316

Kids also cause damage. If it's about risk of damage, you should also be refusing kids.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117847531#Comment_117847531

Kids are a risk most LL’s are willing to accept, pets are not.

Alfred123

What about childish adults ?

And mature kids.

Alfred123

What about persons who tick the Rather not say box for Sexual orientation

Dogs that identify as cats.

Alfred123

What about someone who had a dog .. but the dog died and they just won't shut up about it ?

Mrs OBumble

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117847306#Comment_117847306

As a LL, yes I do refuse kids.

Cats don't crayon walls. Kids do.

fun loving criminal

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117847927#Comment_117847927

I like your honesty.

kippy

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058207341/why-dont-landlords-accept-pets-in-ireland

Why take the risk when you don't have to (as a landlord)? Ultimately that's why it's more difficult as a pet owner to rent.

fun loving criminal

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117847990#Comment_117847990

I know it's about risk but would offering a bigger deposit help?

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117848071#Comment_117848071

How much would you offer?

fun loving criminal

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117848225#Comment_117848225

I'd offer an extra 1000 on top of what's being asked.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117848249#Comment_117848249

I think you would want to offer more than that, if your pet has a habit of damaging furniture/carpets, €1k would replace **** all.

fun loving criminal

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117848259#Comment_117848259

But my pet doesn't have a habit of damaging things. He has his own scratching post and scratches that.

I really don't know why you bother renting to people, it's far too risky for you.

fun loving criminal

Does anyone know anything about insurance and pet liability? Is there such a thing here?

kippy

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117848071#Comment_117848071

No.

AndrewJRenko

While I understand the reservations of some landlords, the net result of this approach is that there is a generation of people who will never have access to pets, as many people are forced to remain in the rental sector, including many single people, many families, many people with disabilities in community settings.

That's not nice or reasonable.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117848269#Comment_117848269

How would a LL know what your pet is like? Or better again, would a prospective tenant volunteer that their dog likes to chew furniture?

mrslancaster

Maybe if the property was let unfurnished and the tenant supplied their own furniture, floor & window coverings, and paid a deposit for cleaning & possible damage to gardens doors etc, then a landlord might allow pets.

fun loving criminal

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117848299#Comment_117848299

People don't own up to being a smoker either. How do you minimise that risk?

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117848500#Comment_117848500

I can’t, but I can minimise risk in relation to animals, hence I don’t allow pets.

lawred2

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117848298#Comment_117848298

Huh!?

fun loving criminal

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117848542#Comment_117848542

Why do you bother renting then? You want to discriminate but can't because smoking can be hidden. So you'll discriminate against something you don't like. And for what, to give tenants a rodent infested property with furniture from 1970 and you'll charge them thousands of euro for the privilege.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117848649#Comment_117848649

There are considerably more tenants who do not have pets than do, and more people who don’t smoke than do, I can’t do much about the smoking, I can about the pets. We discriminate all the time, if the property is as you describe, don’t rent it or contact the RTB. The age of the furniture is irrelevant if it is in good order.

HerrKapitan

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117848298#Comment_117848298

Why is this unreasonable? Pet ownership is a hobby of the privileged and not a right.

Dogs should not be locked up in apartments for 8+ hours. Something that would increase if management companies were to start allowing pets.

Perhaps if people can not own a pet due to renting, they could try volunteering at animal rescue shelters.