Rental risks: Should landlords automatically accept a tenant's pets?

Renting your home to strangers can sometimes seem like a risky business. So what happens when you throw pets into the mix?

Does opening your home to Fido or Fluffy improve your chances of securing better tenants – or simply increase the risk of your carpets and curtains being ruined?

Sam Nokes, head of property management for Jellis Craig’s Armadale, Richmond and South Yarra offices, says the vast majority of owners  don’t mind pets.

“It’s when they’ve had a bad experience previously or they’ve had a friend who’s had a bad experience – that’s when the door generally gets closed,” he says.

Nokes says landlords’ concerns generally involve carpets, dogs scratching at backdoors or door frames, cats destroying curtains or dogs that won’t stop barking.

“You don’t want to annoy the neighbours, especially if you’re thinking of returning,” he says.

However, he says, there are many upsides to accepting pets – such as attracting tenants who are at home more and generally care for the garden.

You might also find you have a longer-term tenant on your hands, which can help you avoid vacancies and re-letting fees.

“Tenants with pets and kids will generally stay longer than those without. It can be difficult to find another place to go,” Nokes says.

Nokes says it’s all about reducing the risk; so a tenant who had the same pet at a previous rental, and comes with a good reference, is a safer bet than a tenant with a new pet.

He warns that advertising your place as anti-pet “sets a really bad tone for you as a landlord”.

If you’re worried about, say, your new floorboards, you can always increase your bond to cover potential costs. However, Nokes warns that it’s illegal to ask for a separate pet bond.

Yvonne Martin, property management consultant at Barry Plant, says landlords should take into account the size of their property and its suitability for particular pets.

“It’s a bit different having a goldfish to having an Alaskan malamute in an apartment, for instance.”

Martin says tenants should include the breed of their pet, plus its age, condition and references in their application.

It pays to remember that the majority of landlord insurances don’t cover damage by pets.

She says a landlord accepting pets may not earn any extra money, but may form a better relationship with their tenant. The goal is to encourage tenants to be upfront, without going so far as to declare their goldfish.

“At the end of the day you want people to be honest going into the tenancy, saying look I have a cat, rather than just hiding the cat every six months when we come through for the inspection.

“Our advice would always be to any landlord to keep your options open and look at what it is that the tenants have to offer.”