PM said saying no to pets means...

Discussion in 'Property Management' started by Synergy, 28th Aug, 2019.

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  1. Synergy

    Synergy Well-Known Member

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    Specifically I did not want tenants to bring cats so I said no to pets in the sign up forms. PM said that saying no to pets you will lose 90% of potential tenants. How true is this?

    House will be brand new in November.

    Can I say to put a pet clause in there or? We in qld.
     
  2. The Y-man

    The Y-man Moderator Staff Member

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    Cats can't read, so they will ignore the clause.

    The Y-man
     
  3. wylie

    wylie Moderator Staff Member

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    Did you mean "they will ignore the claws"? :p

    We've always allowed pets, and have never had stampedes of willing applicants. We don't have carpets or expensive curtains, so there's not much in an old Queenslander that a cat or dog can really hurt.

    We have had a very anxious dog chew a french door with his teeth though, but the tenants fixed it up before leaving.

    I'm not sure (these days) that you can stop a tenant getting a pet? It seems to be one of those grey areas.
     
  4. Synergy

    Synergy Well-Known Member

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    Just this will be our first IP and basically worried about everything. I did say yes to pets but cats concern me
     
  5. Shogun

    Shogun Well-Known Member

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  6. The Y-man

    The Y-man Moderator Staff Member

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    Fully understand this. I think one of the big learnings for me over the years is: don't be too precious about your IP.

    If you ARE too precious about it, you may have spent too much on it, bought the wrong type of property, too worried, or all of the above.

    You'd be surprised how much humans can wreck in an IP compared to a cat or dog.

    You'd also be surprised how relatively easily things can be fixed/spruced (I accidentally typed "screwed" - probably true too! :D) up, repaired etc.

    When I say the wrong type of property, sometimes we buy a beautiful property (like a fresh never before lived in OTP) with lovely window furnishings, the best paint work and top end kitchen as an IP.

    IMHO - that's just asking for heartbreak.

    Owning an IP is a business of providing accommodation. You need a robust, easy to maintain property that can be given a fresh coat of paint often, carpets that can be changed almost as often as tenants, etc etc.

    The Y-man
     
    Last edited: 28th Aug, 2019
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  7. Lindsay_W

    Lindsay_W Well-Known Member

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    Does that mean a cat concerns you more than say, a dog?
    Honestly how much damage do you think a cat (or even a couple of cats) can do to your IP, worst case scenario? Humans are much better at putting holes in walls and trashing carpets.
     
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  8. Kassy

    Kassy Well-Known Member

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    You can just say 'no cats' or 'pets considered'. It is really up to you. I have a couple of properties where I allow pets and some I don't. Not necessarily dependent on whether the property is new or not but the type of property. Up to you entirely.
     
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  9. The Y-man

    The Y-man Moderator Staff Member

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    Having a mum that owns both in her house, I can vouch a playful cat can do a HEAP more damage to carpet (especially on stairs) and woodwork than a dog ever could. Not wanting to make the OP panic, but really comes back to having things like unscratchable smooth gloss enamel on all framework, no carpet on stairs if possible (or maybe cheap easily replaceable ones). Most responsible cat lovers will get scratching posts etc.

    Dogs on the other hand ~ probably on par with human kids.

    Cats and dogs in general do not:
    - leave cigarette burns in carpet
    - leave a hot iron on the carpet
    - place hot cookware directly on your counter top
    - leave the bath running plugged until it floods
    - leave the oven running until it catches fire

    (Yep, we've had all those with human tenants)


    The Y-man
     
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  10. Marg4000

    Marg4000 Well-Known Member

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    Renting out a brand new house is going to be stressful.

    No property stays “brand new” for long, and “reasonable wear and tear” will mean small stains on carpet, minor marks on walls and the odd scratch or tear here or there.

    Just keep everything as plain and simple as possible, no fancy landscaping or decor.

    Brace yourself!
     
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  11. WellKnow

    WellKnow Well-Known Member

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    if you say no to pet any potential tenant with a pet will look elsewhere. Which means you are reducing your pool of potential tenants.

    And as with what everyone have said a human can cause much more damage to an IP than a cat or dog can. I have a large dog at home he muddies the floor specially over winter everyday. Does he wreck the house - No, is it something a quick mop will fix - Yes, does he damage the house - No.

    2 of our IPs are rented out to families with pets(1 was a brand new H&L), have any pets damaged the property - No have the humans damaged the property - Yes (kids put a cricket ball through the window and in the other GF accidentally drove into the garage door)
     
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  12. TMNT

    TMNT Well-Known Member

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    Also dont forget, cats and dogs generally pee outside or the kitty litter
    Not all tenants do
     
  13. Peter_Tersteeg

    Peter_Tersteeg Mortgage Broker Business Member

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    If you say, 'No pets', there's a chance that prospective tenants will simply not disclose the pet. In Victoria you can't evict a tenant for having a pet unless the pet is actually damaging the property.

    Saying, 'Pets considered', is more likely to have pets disclosed, then you can decide to accept or reject the application. It also means people who have a goldfish will still apply. ;)
     
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  14. Dan Wood

    Dan Wood Well-Known Member

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    Sounds like you bought a PPOR not an IP.

    @The Y-man is spot on.
     
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  15. Hetty

    Hetty Well-Known Member

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    When we were looking for a rental a few months ago we were surprised at the number of places that wouldn’t allow our dog. They all stayed on the market much longer.

    I agree about cats causing way more damage than dogs.

    I also think you’re being precious though, as others have said, humans do damage too.
     
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  16. Indifference

    Indifference Well-Known Member

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    Recommend a Pets upon application clause. That at least allows for disclosure & your consideration.

    Also agree with comments above... humans have done far more damage to our properties than pets ever have, especially the not yet fully grown ones....
     
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  17. Peter_Tersteeg

    Peter_Tersteeg Mortgage Broker Business Member

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    Incidentally, by this time next year, you probably won't be allowed to reject an application on the basis of the tenant owning a pet in Victoria.
     
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  18. The Gambler

    The Gambler Well-Known Member

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    I guess the PM wants to rent it out faster and start making money!
    Is the property in a sought after location with minimal rental stock? If not, allowing a pet may be beneficial.

    I like the idea of putting "pets considered" to get the truth and from there you can choose.
     
  19. The Y-man

    The Y-man Moderator Staff Member

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    For the last IP I bought, the selling agent must have thought we were dog owners (we're not) because we seemed so impressed with the big dog proof yard (i.e. lawn and paving - no flower beds), cyclone fencing and proper cyclone gates around the perimeter (unusual for inner melbourne) and a big "caution - ferocious big dog" sign out the front.

    Of course as soon as we put it up for rent, the main headline for the ad had to be "DOG FRIENDLY" :D

    The Y-man
     
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  20. Lindsay_W

    Lindsay_W Well-Known Member

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    Strange, I've had two cats and one large dog and the dog definitely did more damage, the only things the cats destroyed was our couch and boy did they destroy it!
     
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