Tenants want a pet cat.. yay or nay?

We have always allowed cats in our IP's.

And, now we are renters ourselves with a cat, so we were glad to find a place that would allow our furball.

Let them have their cat.

 

Yes for a few reasons:

1. You show them your reasonable
2. It makes you look like the 'nice guy'
3. They will subconsciously develop some extent of emotional gratitude
4. Not all places are pet friendly or allow pets, so when you up the rent each year, they will think twice about moving out. meow.......

 

I've allowed it. Never had an issue. Tenants appreciate it and are less likely to leave.

 

This is my main concern, having cat urine soaked into the new carpet plus scratching damage to curtains and carpet.

I've asked the PM to get a Pet Bond but apparently this cannot be added to the original bond once it's lodged with govt bodies (Melbourne) so I only have the Pet Clause to protect me. The Pet Clause just repeats what the tenancy agreement says anyway which is that they are liable for any damage they cause. Getting a Pet Bond at least gives me additional funds to draw from.

1. Does anyone know if I can request a Pet Bond when the lease is due for renewal in two months? How much is a legal/reasonable amount to request for a Pet Bond?

2. Would people entertain the cost of going halves with the tenants in a cat/dog flap installed in the rear door of the house? This would give the pet easy access to the rear garden to use the toilet. I don't want a pet indoors all day if it's not toilet trained! Having the pet flap installed could also be a selling point for future tenants with pets.

 

1. Not 100% on Victoria's rules but I thought WA was the only state with pet bonds. Max there is $260. I checked the pets guide on Tenants Union Victoria and there was no mention of pet bonds there.

2. Sounds reasonable, doesn't hurt to ask

 

Having been in an identical situation to yourself, I can say that the actions others have mentioned sounds about right.

My tenants requested a cat to add to their family after about 4 months after they moved in to my Sydney IP. No issues whatsoever and when they moved out, there were no issues with the cat or smells or anything.

 

@D.T. can you add into the contract that every 4-6 months the carpet is professionally cleaned at the cost of the tenant?

 

The difference between cats and dogs: I'll borrow a quote I heard, "You feed, care for and love a dog and it thinks your God. You feed, care for and love a cat and it thinks it's God."

 

That would never fly :/

 

But is it within legal permissibility ? (i'm just curious)

 

I run a carpet cleaning business and I can honestly say with all of our end of lease cleans. Children are far more destructive than cats and dogs from a carpet point of view anyway

 

Grey area - it's legally possible to add it to the lease but no way of enforcing it. If they didn't do it you couldn't do anything about it.

Even without pets you can't request they steam clean carpets at the end of the lease. Lots do though.

The rule is that the condition just needs to match the condition at beginning of tenancy, minus reasonable fair wear and tear (irrelevant if pets or not for this condition).

 

Yeah good idea.

 

If I was gunna go that far I'd make up a basic cat run/enclosure along the side of the house so it doesn't jump the fence, kill birds etc.
Very cheap to do with some bird netting, chicken wire etc

 

We had to say no to the cat request. A combination of brand new carpets in the IP and my memories about my grandparents cat who was very well trained but had an upset stomach one day and made a massive mess all over the carpets...

 

Sounds like some children

 

My cat meows when she wants to go out and uses her paws to knock on the glass door when she wants to come in.

 

Similar quote I often use is "Dogs have masters, cats have servants."

 

You've misquoted me, I said major damage by pets - but ONLY in properties with tenants I've evicted.

You cannot ask for a pet bond period in Vic, you can request a higher bond if the rent is over $350pw - but only at the start of the tenancy, unless you feel like going to VCAT to request a higher bond, which I assume you don't.

I wouldn't be concerned as good tenants are the ones that have scratching posts, clean the litter regularly, look after the pets and stick around longer.

I also like that they waited 10months, rather than one or two which is what normally happens - or asked at all.

 

And that was most likely a blessing for everyone involved