Why don't 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

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

As a LL, yes I do refuse kids.

Cats don't crayon walls. Kids do.

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.

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.

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.

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.