What to Consider If You Need to Find a Rental Property and Have a Dog
Renting With Dogs Are you presently in a situation where you need to find rented accommodation, but have to bring along your dog? For obvious reasons, landlords are often reluctant to take pets into their accommodation.
All the landlord wants is a quiet life, and if your neighbors in his apartment complex take offense, or your animal does any damage, your landlord's life will not be a happy one.
It is for this reason that landlords will often choose to take another tenant without a dog instead of taking one with a pet.
Finding an Acceptable Rental Property You will probably find it very difficult to find accommodation if you need to bring along one or more dogs.
It is best to be honest at the outset and tell the landlord that you have a dog.
This is far better than finding out further along the line, perhaps even after you've got as far as a credit check, that dogs are not accepted.
Even if they are, there could be limitations as to size and breed.
If your dog is of a large size, or a breed that is commonly banned, this consideration becomes even more important.
The earlier in the negotiations that you find out what restrictions there are, the less time you will waste in finding a suitable property.
Another important consideration, apart from whether or not dogs are allowed, is what the surrounding area is like.
For the animal's well being, it is important to avoid areas with no nearby areas to walk the dog.
You will soon get bored with having to drive to the local park for his daily exercise.
Obviously the ideal is for a large, grassy area close by for your dog to be let off his leash for a run at least once a day.
Contracts You must read your contract carefully before signing anything.
This is important for anybody, but particularly for those with dogs, since the landlord may make special restrictions in the case of dog owners.
Such things as requiring an additional security deposit from the tenant, demanding additional cleaning on vacating the property and additional responsibility for the owner if the dog engages in nuisance barking are all possible restrictions.
Barking can be a serious problem, especially in apartment buildings or in houses where a common interior wall is shared by neighbors.
It can even be grounds for eviction.
For all of these reasons, it is vital to read and understand your rental contract fully.
Maintaining the Property It is only a matter of courtesy that you take good care of your rental property whilst you are in occupation.
You must clean regularly and thoroughly to minimise build up of dog hair and if your dog has any accidents, you must react quickly to clean up any mess before it stains.
Remember, these are probably not your carpets and furnishings so must be treated with respect.
A good quality vacuum cleaner will take the back-ache out of caring for carpets with a dog in the property.
It is true to say that if you neglect daily cleaning routines doggy smells will slowly but surely take over.
Consideration for Others Tenants who own dogs must pick up after them whilst outside exercising them and keep their dogs on a leash in public areas.
This is the law in many cities and can be punished by a fine.
However, even if there are no laws in effect, it is only showing courtesy to others to clean up after your dog and a considerate owner should not have to be told to do this.
Keeping your dog on a leash helps you to keep control of him and ensures the safety of the dog as well as other people as it prevents him from running out into traffic.
Who knows, if all goes well you may even encourage your landlord to take more people with dogs in the future.
All the landlord wants is a quiet life, and if your neighbors in his apartment complex take offense, or your animal does any damage, your landlord's life will not be a happy one.
It is for this reason that landlords will often choose to take another tenant without a dog instead of taking one with a pet.
Finding an Acceptable Rental Property You will probably find it very difficult to find accommodation if you need to bring along one or more dogs.
It is best to be honest at the outset and tell the landlord that you have a dog.
This is far better than finding out further along the line, perhaps even after you've got as far as a credit check, that dogs are not accepted.
Even if they are, there could be limitations as to size and breed.
If your dog is of a large size, or a breed that is commonly banned, this consideration becomes even more important.
The earlier in the negotiations that you find out what restrictions there are, the less time you will waste in finding a suitable property.
Another important consideration, apart from whether or not dogs are allowed, is what the surrounding area is like.
For the animal's well being, it is important to avoid areas with no nearby areas to walk the dog.
You will soon get bored with having to drive to the local park for his daily exercise.
Obviously the ideal is for a large, grassy area close by for your dog to be let off his leash for a run at least once a day.
Contracts You must read your contract carefully before signing anything.
This is important for anybody, but particularly for those with dogs, since the landlord may make special restrictions in the case of dog owners.
Such things as requiring an additional security deposit from the tenant, demanding additional cleaning on vacating the property and additional responsibility for the owner if the dog engages in nuisance barking are all possible restrictions.
Barking can be a serious problem, especially in apartment buildings or in houses where a common interior wall is shared by neighbors.
It can even be grounds for eviction.
For all of these reasons, it is vital to read and understand your rental contract fully.
Maintaining the Property It is only a matter of courtesy that you take good care of your rental property whilst you are in occupation.
You must clean regularly and thoroughly to minimise build up of dog hair and if your dog has any accidents, you must react quickly to clean up any mess before it stains.
Remember, these are probably not your carpets and furnishings so must be treated with respect.
A good quality vacuum cleaner will take the back-ache out of caring for carpets with a dog in the property.
It is true to say that if you neglect daily cleaning routines doggy smells will slowly but surely take over.
Consideration for Others Tenants who own dogs must pick up after them whilst outside exercising them and keep their dogs on a leash in public areas.
This is the law in many cities and can be punished by a fine.
However, even if there are no laws in effect, it is only showing courtesy to others to clean up after your dog and a considerate owner should not have to be told to do this.
Keeping your dog on a leash helps you to keep control of him and ensures the safety of the dog as well as other people as it prevents him from running out into traffic.
Who knows, if all goes well you may even encourage your landlord to take more people with dogs in the future.
