Tenants across the country fess up to hiding their pets from their property manager or landlord for fear of missing out on a rental or having to give up their furry friend.
For tenants with pets, finding a rental can be made to feel that much harder as landlords often favour applicants without pets.
So when it comes down to saying goodbye to a beloved pet or lying to secure a roof over one’s head, it’s no surprise tenants are choosing to risk it for the biscuit.
“Unfortunately people feel pushed into hiding pets because they don’t feel they have other alternatives. It can be very difficult finding and being approved for a pet-friendly rental and the default no pets position can be very daunting at the home-hunting stage,” said Tenants Union NSW chief executive Leo Patterson Ross.
Tenants admit to hiding their pets for years without being found out. Picture: Getty
Jason has successfully hidden his dog from his landlord for four years.
“I live in an apartment that’s in a pretty strict building, where all pets are banned. But my dog is really well-trained and super quiet, so it’s not like he ever makes any noise or anything,” Jason said.
He said inspections can be tricky, but he has found some clever hiding spots.
“The key to successfully hiding him from my landlord has been keeping him small enough that he can fit into small spaces. This way, if my landlord comes over and looks around, she won’t be able to see him.”
Despite landlords being more accepting of pets, tenants still feel they need to lie. Picture: Getty
Matt said that despite the apartment he applied for being accepting of pets, he still felt his competition who didn’t have a pet would be preferred, so decided not to disclose the fact he had a dog.
“I moved into my new apartment with the knowledge that it was pet friendly, but I didn’t want to tell my landlord,” he said.
“For some reason, I felt like if he found out that we had a dog, he would make us move out. So I decided to keep him hidden in the closet in our bedroom when the landlord was around. We would let him out only when we were alone and could watch him closely.”
Victoria’s rental reforms recognised tenants’ rights to have pets. Picture: Getty
Elise is a tenant living in Victoria with her dog and said that when she first moved into the property she’s renting, she chose not to disclose the fact she had a pet, however, when rental reforms came into place last year to say that landlords could not unreasonably refuse a pet, she let her property manager know her true circumstances.
“I explained the situation and sent in an application for approval with a photo of my dog. The property had recently flooded and it was a really bad situation for the tenants, so I chose a photo of my dog among the flood to make a bit of a point,” she said.
New data shows landlords more open to pets
In recent data by property management tool FLK IT OVER, the number of tenants requesting permission to keep animals on the property is on the rise and landlords are now more likely to say yes to pets.
“The demand for pets in rentals is steadily increasing by 3% a year since 2017 and for landlords this increasing demand is important to take note of if they want to realise their full occupancy and maximise their rent potential by appealing to the largest market,” said Andrew Colagiuri, founder of the company.
“Despite the shortage of rental properties, landlords are not reverting to the no pets policy, instead they are embracing [tenants with pets], partly because of changes to legislation but also because it’s better to find a quality tenant even if it means allowing a pet,” said Mr Colagiuri.
However, the data also revealed that despite more landlords being accepting of tenants with pets, many renters still hide the fact they have a furry friends for fear of missing out.
“There are still many tenants who home a pet midway through their lease and hide it for fear of being not allowed to keep it,” said Mr Colagiuri.
Should you or shouldn’t you hide your pet in a rental?
Landlords and property managers recommend to be transparent when it comes to keeping a pet in a rental as lying about it could lead to major headaches for tenants later on.
Pet laws differ from state to state with some being more accepting of pets than others, however, most rental agreements will stipulate the landlord’s pet clause.
Tenants want a home that can accommodate their beloved fur friends. Picture: Pexels
“Where a landlord has made it a term of the agreement not to have a pet without permission then hiding a pet can put your tenancy in danger, and your renting history.
“It is important that the law and culture is changed here to allow more people to have pets where it is appropriate for the kind of pet and the kind of home,” said Mr Patterson Ross.
When it comes to getting a pet mid-way through a tenancy, it’s important to check the agreement a tenant has signed.
“You need to check your agreement – not all agreements ban pets, or require permission, so it is worth checking.
“Most likely you will need to seek permission from the landlord. It is worth asking because ‘no pets’ has become a default setting and sometimes your request will be the first time the landlord has thought about how they feel about pets, or realised that the no pet default doesn’t reflect their wishes,” said Mr Patterson Ross.
He also recommends providing information about the pet when requesting permission to show it is well-trained and well-cared for.
“You want to make it as easy as possible to say yes!” he said.
