After splitting with my partner, I tried in vain to find a rental property where I could take a dog and a cat. Most landlords didn't want to know - and unfortunately the ones that were willing to negotiate were a million miles from town or the place was a grotty hole.

In the end I gave up in frustration and bought a place - with a big back yard and I built high fences to keep the dog in.

The place I bought has wonderful wooden floors which my big black lab/pointer cross has already gauged a few scratches in, but it's worth it to not spend four hours trying to get his fur out of the carpet! A quick sweep and a mop and it's like new! The scratches are worth it to have a dog - and I'll just sand and re-varnish when I want to sell!

Seems like pet owners would be ok with a little wear in their rented home if they would be allowed pets. Perhaps there is an opportunity out there for a few enterprising landlords?

When we moved into our flat (also about to be sold, boo!) the ad said no pets. We desperately wanted a cat, so offered to pay an extra week's rent as a pet bond to cover any additional damage caused by a cat, which was fine. Negotiating worked!

I think people have to accept that it's highly unlikely you can find a place to rent that will allow pets.

I hate seeing trademe ads with pets for sale because the supposedly loving owner can't have the pet at the new place. I personally think it is extremely selfish for these people to get into these situations - it is just not fair on the pet.

If you don't know that your pet has a place to live for its entire lifespan, then don't get one until you are sure of its future is my opinion.

This is a good topic. I had a fantastic landlord in Kingsland who allowed dogs, he also owned a dog (who he would bring with him when he came to mow the lawns) and the section had a well fenced backyard. I was sooooo happy to find that property, it was a bit more expensive but well worth it.

That was the only place I rented with a dog, I bought a house after that, but even buying a house that is suitable for a dog is not as easy as you might think.

I have pondered the question of allowing dogs as a landlord and I think I agree with you - cats are ok (as long as its not like 8) and I would be open to negotiation on dogs. It really comes down to the tenant and whether they are respectful and careful of your property. In some ways I think pets probably dont really add or subtract to that - I'm sure people (esp. kids and students!) can do just as much damage as a pet if the tenants are disrespectful. In all honesty I would probably choose a professional couple with a dog over a group of students or a huge family as tenants.

Rent a place through housing corp. Not only is the rent cheap but you can have unlimited pets including. The damage is not a problem either as the State will pay for it.

One solution to the problem is not to tell your landlord that you have a pet. If they're sufficiently inattentive it can work! Whether it's moral or legal is another question.

I think there is sometimes some unfair prejudice against dogs in this regard. As you've described, cats can do a lot of damage - dogs don't feel the need to periodically stratch things to stretch their claws, nor do many of them attempt to jump on to places that are too high for them. Cats also often vomit more frequently. A well-trained dog may be far less destructive - certainly our cats have done more damage than our dog!

I agree this is a good topic, as a renter, yet unable to afford to buy my own home and with a cat. I find that if you have one cat, landlords will usually agree, you put a cat door in and pay for the glass to be replaced before you leave. The cat does little damage...and I should note it does depend on the breed of cat you have as to weather you will have ripped wallpaper or not. Some breeds do climb curtains! Luckily ours is a normal moggy and does not do this. It defiently depends on you as a tenant as LB's comment, if you are trustworthy and have a good track record as a tenant, then that defiently helps with renting with a pet, landlords do take note of this. For landlords to be lenient on pets is good, but tenants must remember the ppty is not theirs and should respect this by treating the ppty with care. Re JEms comment, its also fair to say, people who rent and cant find a retnal to take their pet, means more stray animals.... Re Josh's comment, this is a reckless attitude of someone who obviously dosnt care for rental pptys. Its not upto the taxpayer to pay for damage by uncaring tenants. The person renting the ppty has that responsibility.

I am advertising for a tenant right now for a spare room. i already have two dogs. Someone turned up, i showed them around the place, they said the liked the room & would take it but - they had a dog. i wished they had told me upfront! Unfortunetly, I can't have another dog on the premises. My backyard just isn't big enough and besides, the neighbours already put up with enough barking. I felt really awful telling this person I couldn't help them out, and they weren't too happy with me. But I couldn't help but thinking - surely you knew what you were getting yourself into when you adopted the dog - that you would have trouble finding rental properties wtih a dog? I mean, i really feel for people in this situation, because i don't think it should be so hard to rent a place when you have a dog - dogs are tidy. But fact is, it IS hard & people will choose a tenant without a dog over a tenant with a dog anyday. So why get a dog if you don't own your own property? It sounds harsh, but at teh end of the day, you have to stop being so selfish. I know YOU want a dog, ebcause they are fun & keep you company, but spare a thought for the poor dog - if you don't own your own house, what's going to happen to teh dog if/when you have to move on from your current dwelling? It's better to wait until you have your own place. If you REALLY care about the dog, wait until you can give it a "forever home".

I am a landlord and I have no probs with my tenants having pets, thats because I use to live in the house myself and have pets in it. Basically if im happy enough to have people renting my property, then im confident enough that they are the responsible type who will ensure their pets are kept under control and wont cause massive damage. I expect wear and tear (im a dog owner so i know what the little monkeys get up to) as long as its not major damage and the poos are picked up reg, then i have no issue.