Facebook page helps renters keep pets
A NO pets allowed rule has been a part of Perth’s housing rental scene for years but now social media is helping to change that.
A NO pets allowed rule has been a part of Perth's housing rental scene for years, but now social media is helping to keep families and pets together.
Keen to stop the heartbreaking rise in the number of animals left in Perth pounds, animal lover Claire Bingham has created a new Facebook page to help renters find pet friendly homes.
The Perth Pet Friendly Rentals page, created in November, has been used to connect people searching for homes with agents and landlords who have pet friendly properties.
Mrs Bingham said she wanted to do something to stop so many animals being left at pounds by people who could not find suitable homes.
"My goal is to keep people and their pets together and dispel the myths that pets will cause damage or be a nuisance," Mrs Bingham said.
Perth’s population explosion and culture of not allowing people to house dogs in rentals had been partly responsible for the increasing number of dogs left in pounds, Desperate For Love Pound Rescue founder Natalie Plunkett said.
"I am continuously getting calls from members of the public distressed because they are moving house and are not allowed to have any pets in their new rentals," Ms Plunkett said.
"The rental culture in Perth is dreadful. Owners are too frightened to allow pets in their rental properties because they are afraid of the possible damage that could be done to their property or they simply don’t like dogs."
Real Estate Institute of WA spokesman Brian Greig said the shortage of pet friendly rentals in WA was the result of Perth’s rental culture and a strong mistrust after tenants "did the wrong thing" by hiding or lying about their pets.
He said Perth landlords’ aversion to pets was much stronger than in the eastern states.
RSPCA spokesman Tim Mayne said the second most common reason people surrendered pets to the RSPCA was being unable to find pet friendly accommodation.
REIWA property managers network spokeswoman Michelle Rigg said though some renters with pets could find it difficult to find a home, pet ownership was not as strong a barrier to renting as it was in previous years.
"It’s just a difficult market . . . everybody is struggling at the moment," she said.
Ms Rigg said the majority of landlords with a strict no pets policy had previously had a bad experience, or had heard horror stories relating to pets in rentals.
She said landlords might also have health or religious reasons to ban pets from properties.
"It’s also the property not every property is suitable for animals," she said.
Natalie Plunkett
MOST people are unaware of how many surrendered dogs are left to die in pounds, according to Desperate for Love Dog Pound Rescue founder Natalie Plunkett.
Perth’s population explosion, a competitive rental market and a widespread no pets policy has meant an increasing number of dogs are being sent to pounds.
"A lot of people dump their dogs in the pound, saying it’s a stray, because they want to avoid a surrender fee," she said.
Ms Plunkett said it was difficult to say how many pets were in pounds specifically because of the rental market.
But she said pet bans in rental properties was "a significant" reason why peole gave up pets.
"Puppy farms and selling dogs in pet shops needs to stop and the rental culture regarding dogs definitely needs to change,’’ she said.
The organisation now rescues more than 500 dogs a year from Perth pounds or via direct surrenders.
Jessica Lang
Royal Perth Hospital nurse Jessica Lang looked for almost two years for a pet friendly rental, in suburbs from Bentley to Innaloo.
The search was fruitless and she chose to build her own home in Byford as a result.
"Everyone was keen when I said I was a nurse working at Royal Perth, but as soon as I said I had a dog they didn’t want to know about it,’’ Ms Lang said.
Ms Lang, who moved into her new place six months ago, said it was farther away from work than she would have liked, but her daily commute was preferable to giving up her dogs.
She now owns three dogs and fosters three others.
Mal Risdon
Perth renter Mal Risdon has been desperately looking for a pet friendly rental for more than two months.
In an email to a Perth real estate agent in December, Mr Risdon said he might have to give up his sons’ two dogs if the family could not find a new rental before February.
"I am in the process of looking for a new rental property and it is near on impossible to find one that will allow pets," Mr Risdon wrote. Mr Risdon said sending the email was painful as the dogs had been a big part of his family and bought them much joy over the years.
"Having a deadline is difficult and we’ve tried online classified site Gumtree, but there are more people looking than offering homes," Mr Risdon told The Sunday Times.
"We’re trying to find some place which is pet friendly, but if people without pets put an application in, they get first priority.
"Both dogs are well behaved they get walked and played with and they play well with each other. The kids will be very upset if we have to give them up."
Mr Risdon said he would like the dogs to go to good homes if the family could not find a rental that accepted pets.
If you are having trouble finding a pet friendly rental, the experts may have the answers.
Check out the Perth Pet Friendly Rentals Facebook page
A number of real estate agents have started posting their pet friendly listings and users can post requests or discuss their difficulties in finding a place.
Offer to sign a pet inclusive lease agreement
REIWA media spokesman Brian Greig said an official agreement was useful for outlining the responsibilities of both tenant and landlord. Talk to REIWA or your landlord for more information.
Be up front and honest
REIWA property managers network spokeswoman Michelle Rigg said tenants did themselves no favours by hiding things.
"We call for references and if the tenants haven’t mentioned a pet and we find out they have one, we wonder what else they are hiding," she said.
"So it’s best to be up front and honest about your pets."
Mr Greig said other tenants made the mistake of getting pets after they moved in, voiding their contract.
Make sure your pet is well trained
RSPCA spokesman Tim Mayne said the last thing a landlord would want was damage, but if people were responsible pet owners and trained their animals, there should be no reason for property owners to worry.
He said tenants would also have a better relationship with their pet as a result.
Be persistent, but polite
A strong supporter of pet friendly rentals, property owner Cathy Campbell recommends tenants be persistent, but polite when talking to agents about pets.
"It may be the agent and not the owner who is saying no to pets," she said.
"I once had an agent, quite a new girl, nervously start to tell me that the tenants had a dog, and I just had to remind her that it was my property and I’m fine with pets."
Provide references
Ms Campbell recommends pets are mentioned in references from previous landlords and vets.
"Just anything to put yourself forward helps," she said.
Write a personal letter
Property owner Carolyn Trowbridge said a personal letter helps tenants introduce themselves and their pets.
"The reality is, lots of places say pets considered, but it can be good to have the personal connection a letter gives, rather than just, ‘young couple, has a dog’," she said.
"You just say who you are and what you’re about, introduce yourselves and your animals, and maybe include a picture and a description of your dog.
"It’s quite effective and shows you’re genuine."