If you think sneaking your pet into a rental that doesn’t allow it is a good idea, you should probably think again.
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Speaking with LJ Hooker’s senior tenancy manager Robyn Rossiter, finding a pet in a property that doesn’t permit them or when the agency hasn’t been notified, can lead you into quite a bit of trouble.
“Usually owners who say no to pets is because they’ve had a horrible experience previously or they’ve heard of some,” Ms Rossiter said.
“Even if tenants are responsible, they could still unwittingly damage property and it is sometimes not as simple as changing carpet, it can cause bigger damage than tenants are aware of.
“We’ll advertise if a property allows a pet or not, there’s no surprises, we disclose this upfront.”
1. Eviction
Not meaning to scare you, however finding a pet that should not be there is a breach of an agreement.
“It can be a bit tricky if we find a pet inside the property, but we can breach them, as the tenants are breaching their agreement,” Ms Rossiter said.
Even worse, a black mark on your tenancy record could result in it becoming virtually impossible to lease again.
2. There’s always those “tell-tale” signs, that are easy to forget
“At the moment, tenants always know when we’re visiting the property, so they just hide the pet,” she said.
“But, we can see tell-tale signs, like some animal droppings in the back yard, a smell or odour in the house, some animal toys or bedding lying around, and even a dog bowl on the veranda.”
3. Don’t trust your neighbours
“We’ll often have neighbours report pets or even friends driving by the home and notice a cat in the window, or hear a dog bark.”
4. Sometimes your beloved pet might expose the secret
Mother nature and even fireworks can be cruel and when the thunder hits or sparks hit the the sky, it’s likely to make your dog go a little crazy.
But, those barks could be very unwanted, especially to your neighbours.
5. It’s expensive, especially when it’s not your home
What if your pet does urinate on the floor and it stains, or even worse, the smell sticks?
Pets can cause wear and tear on buildings; causing you to miss out on getting your bond back.