Pet Clause to Lease

Discussion in 'Property Management' started by Shady, 10th Jan, 2016.

Join Australia's most dynamic and respected property investment community
Tags:
  1. Shady

    Shady Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    20th Aug, 2015
    Posts:
    523
    Location:
    Sydney
    Short Version
    Can anyone point me in the direction of an example of a pet clause

    Long Version
    Just settled on a house in SW Brisbane 2 days ago...Drove up from Syd with a car full or tools ready for an intense week of cosmetic renovations...
    Thought I'd try my luck and asked the PM to commence marketing the property a week ago before settlement with an open home yesterday and stipulating that the house will be painted inside, new carpet and blinds.
    Lucky to get someone put in an application at asking rent, starting in 2 weeks....Bingo!..Only thing is they have a dog and cat...
    Silly me had started removing the old carpet already otherwise I would have jumped at it if they would agree to accept the old carpet..One reason for replacing the carpet is the previous tenants had 2 dogs (a staffy and a lap dog) seems they were allowed inside and one room in particular stinks of dogs pi$$.

    Anyway been reading through the threads and it seems the majority of people here dont have a problem with pets. I also read somehwere here that people have asked for more rent to allow pets.
    Also read about a Pet Clause, Can anyone point me in the direction of an example.

    Thanks
     
  2. thatbum

    thatbum Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    18th Jun, 2015
    Posts:
    5,788
    Location:
    Perth, WA
    ...what are you hoping to achieve with the pet clause? Are you wanting to ban pets or...?
     
  3. Shady

    Shady Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    20th Aug, 2015
    Posts:
    523
    Location:
    Sydney
    No idea...I have seen people refer to it, I just want to read what it says
     
  4. Xenia

    Xenia Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    16th Oct, 2015
    Posts:
    3,863
    email me - we have a one page pet clause in our leases. I can send you one.
     
    Team Davo and MTR like this.
  5. MTR

    MTR Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    19th Jun, 2015
    Posts:
    27,784
    Location:
    My World
    I don't have a problem with pets per se, however here in Perth pet bond is only $100, seriously that is peanuts.
     
    Xenia likes this.
  6. Xenia

    Xenia Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    16th Oct, 2015
    Posts:
    3,863
    No pet bonds can be taken in SA.
    There is a way around it if a landlord insists but we don't normally take them.
     
  7. MTR

    MTR Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    19th Jun, 2015
    Posts:
    27,784
    Location:
    My World
    Really, shame about that.
     
  8. D.T.

    D.T. Specialist Property Manager Business Member

    Joined:
    3rd Jun, 2015
    Posts:
    9,189
    Location:
    Adelaide and Gold Coast
    $260 in WA and 0 everywhere else in Australia.

    Sometimes I think I'd rather have a children's bond lol :p
     
    DaveM likes this.
  9. thatbum

    thatbum Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    18th Jun, 2015
    Posts:
    5,788
    Location:
    Perth, WA
    I don't think I've ever seen a 'pet clause' that really did anything beyond the normal rules.
     
  10. Scott No Mates

    Scott No Mates Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    18th Jun, 2015
    Posts:
    27,094
    Location:
    Sydney or NSW or Australia
    @Shady - There's a standard (deletable) clause in the NSW tenancy agreement. Your PM may also have one that they use.
     
  11. Sackie

    Sackie Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    18th Jun, 2015
    Posts:
    25,034
    Location:
    Vaucluse, Sydney.
    have em, using them on a few properties. TBH dont know if it does anythin extra than whats already provided, but thats not really important. Sometimes Its more what the tenants THINK it means.
     
    Shady likes this.
  12. dabbler

    dabbler Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    18th Jun, 2015
    Posts:
    8,572
    Location:
    Sid en e - olympic city
    You can ask that carpets are professionally cleaned etc, or pets stay outside, some insurers wont cover anything to do with pets, some say they require a bond.

    Frankly, it may be better not to know.
     
  13. dabbler

    dabbler Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    18th Jun, 2015
    Posts:
    8,572
    Location:
    Sid en e - olympic city
    yeah, this does more damage than most pets ever will......
     
  14. Ian Macleod

    Ian Macleod Active Member

    Joined:
    17th Dec, 2015
    Posts:
    27
    Location:
    NSW
    Qld’s std tenancy agreement includes a std pet clause (24). Tenants are responsible for any damage to the property caused by their pets however you cannot charge an additional pet bond.

    If you may wish to protect yourself you might consider including a special term that spells out the tenant’s responsibility in relation to the cat and the dog. eg

    1.The Tenant agrees to have the carpet professionally cleaned or pay for such cleaning at the end of the tenancy if the Tenant keeps an animal at the Residential Premises at any time during the tenancy.

    2. The Tenant agrees to compensate the lessor for all damage caused by their pets during the term of this tenancy.


    We do have a pet agreement that could also be included as an addendum to your tenancy agreement. Click here to grab a copy
     
    Last edited: 11th Jan, 2016
  15. Ian Macleod

    Ian Macleod Active Member

    Joined:
    17th Dec, 2015
    Posts:
    27
    Location:
    NSW
    In NSW the residential tenancies act prohibits terms in the residential tenancy agreement that require the tenant to have the carpet professionally cleaned, or pay the cost of such cleaning, at the end of the tenancy (Section 19 (1)) .However, if the tenant is permitted to keep an animal on the premises the agreement may include a term that requires the carpet to be professionally cleaned or requires the tenant to pay the cost of such cleaning, at the end of the tenancy. (section 19 (3)).

    In the case of a pet being permitted we include the following clause in our residential tenancy agreement.

    44. The Landlord agrees that the Tenant may keep the following animals on the Residential Premises: one small dog / one cat etc.

    45. The Tenant agrees to have the carpet professionally cleaned or pay for such cleaning at the end of the tenancy if the Tenant keeps an animal at the Residential Premises at any time during the tenancy
     
  16. mik

    mik Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    3rd Jul, 2015
    Posts:
    51
    Location:
    WA
    I suggest you state clearly that no pets or animals are allowed.
    The pet bond here in WA is inadequate.
    I'm an animal lover and always allowed pets in my investment properties but after many years of seeing the poor way in which most "pets" were cared for and the subsequent damage that I (the owner) had to pay for because of lousy tenants and lousy managing agents my policy now is NO ANIMALS.
    Of course you can always make an exception if you know the animal and the tenant.