Tenant Requesting for Small Dog in Apartment

CheapSticks on 14/02/2018 - 22:59

hi

I am in NSW and my tenant has requested for a small dog. Generally they have been good in terms of paying rent, my agent tells me that they maintain the property well. Agent is for us letting them have a dog. I am told that I can't ask for a "pet bond".

My concern is around that both the partners work - though some day from home. Our lounge/dining/hallway has pretty expensive laminate (recently laid) which won't withstand the dog relieving himself - i cant say about scratching surface etc.

Wondering if anyone had any ideas before i say "No"!

Home & Garden

Comments

        • enzioFirenze on 17/02/2018 - 14:57

          @Toons: oh but it sure reinforces my dislike towards cats so I'll take that :D

        • Quantumcat on 17/02/2018 - 17:52
          -5

          @enzioFirenze: if a cat is treated kindly it is a perfect pet, and would never do anything like that. Don't let this story put you off pets (unless you weren't planning to treat your pets kindly).
          Even when dogs are looked after perfectly they still have bad sides (barking, needing constant attention all day) whereas cats don't

        • Toons on 17/02/2018 - 23:32

          @Quantumcat: Sorry Quantum but i take offence to that because your statement assumes the cat was treated badly by us, The Cat had always been treated kindly it was a member of the house and treated as such. The fact it went on such a destructive path was explained above, sorry that you can't get past you're own personal preference to see where the issue was.

          Apology Basket

        • Quantumcat on 18/02/2018 - 08:34
          -5

          @Toons: was it a cuddly lap cat beforehand? If not, that means it wasn't treated with respect always (cats only stop being cuddly when they start having reasonable fear of for example being dropped or treated roughly). Did you ignore it completely or start treating it roughly when the baby came? Did you start to neglect to clean the litter tray? The behaviour you mentioned is extreme but it makes sense. If you don't think you treated it poorly then if you got it as an adult it might have been treated poorly in its previous home. Or, if you have other kids they may have treated it roughly even if the adults always treated it kindly.
          There's always a reason for an animal's behaviour. For example, even though I'm not a fan of dogs, if someone complained that their dog ripped all their shoes and cushions and furniture apart one day, I would be thinking, "well, they obviously didn't walk it enough, or give it enough attention, or give it enough toys and train it to use those toys instead of shoes", rather than "typical horrible dog". What you described is kind of the cat's version of this - extreme bad behaviour, but with a root cause.

        • Toons on 18/02/2018 - 10:33

          @Quantumcat:

          No the cat was treated the right way it didn't like being put out as stated or feeling it was no longer No 1 and i don't need someone who has no idea of what we went through. telling me we did something wrong, we had a fu#$$#& baby

          Not sure if you have been through the first few weeks of being a parent it takes a lot out of people my wife even more so.

          There was also more to the story i intentionally left out because it would scare and disgust some people.

          Being awoke to the sound of our cat hissing and watching it pace the cot while doing it was pretty scary for a parent while the baby slept pacing looking for the best way up when we got to the room it was balanced on the top rail of the cot standing over the baby mouth wide open hissing and ready to attack a innocent baby wrapped up with no defence at all

          I'm afraid you're treating cats in the same way a parent does when the kids get in trouble and they are left stating our kid would never do that.

          Your response was to pile more reasoning on what we might have done wrong instead of just understanding what happened we went through hell not the cat it's been both ignorant and insulting.

          Like the cat you can't see the wrong you have done here

          There's always a reason for an animal's behaviour

          I gave you that reason yet you chose to ignore that and point it towards us and your multitude of other ways to prove we did something wrong above

          1 Yes but at it's choice
          2 NO
          3 NO

          No we didn't treat it poorly then or ever

          This was our first child it knew how to sleep drink and shit at that point, definitely had no superpowers that manifested when we all were asleep to torture the cat.

          Root cause cat was jealous of the baby or anything else that came into our home like the blind dog

        • lainey13 on 18/02/2018 - 11:58

          @Toons: I can definitely believe your cat was just born a nasty -ucker.

        • Toons on 18/02/2018 - 12:05

          @lainey13: which is why i'm so P#%%^ off that i'm being accused of being negligent or my fault somehow because cats are wonderful

          What QC doesn't know we took out the outright breeders award for Australia without even entering and was handed over by the President of the Breeders organisation and the RSPCA at our place because they wanted to see first hand what they had heard so much about. from their members.

          So we know a thing or 2 about animals apparently

        • Quantumcat on 18/02/2018 - 15:02
          -3

          @Toons: A cat doesn't know what a baby is. If its life was identical pre-baby as post-baby it wouldn't have anything to react to. Did it react when you bought a new microwave or lamp table? Probably not - its life would have been the same. When the baby or blind dog came though, it was obviously treated differently. So it reacted. A little extremely, but logically. A cat isn't going to work out that the baby is anything other than a new object in the house and go nuts when it wouldn't go nuts to any other object. It is going nuts because its life changed. When you worked out that you didn't have time for the cat anymore, hopefully you found it a new home instead of letting it be miserable.
          If you had a dog and walked it twice a day, then you got a baby and stopped walking it (couldn't leave the house much for the first few weeks, exhausted from no sleep at night etc), then the dog started eating your sofa and shoes during the day and peeing on your bed (a friend experienced this), would you think the dog was evil and punishing you for having a baby, or would you think it was just reacting to its change of circumstances (and find it a new home at least temporarily)?

        • Toons on 18/02/2018 - 15:23
          +1

          @Quantumcat: I'm sick of this pile of crap from you utter crap from you. you're beginning to sound like the gun nuts in the US

          I've already answered this no we didn't treat it any differently my answer will be no different my experience will not be different.

          This has nothing to do with cats vs dogs

          You don't comprehend the basics in life and are too blind to see anything other than you're belief that Cats are 100% loyal innocent trustworthy

          get a grip on reality

        • Toons on 18/02/2018 - 15:29
          +1

          @Quantumcat: If you're goal was to P155 Me right off you succeeded from what was one of the most traumatic event's a parent can go through

          I really can't believe it.

          You have blamed everyone for it's behaviour bar the cat.

        • Moderatorneil on 18/02/2018 - 15:38

          Quantam & Toons,

          This conversation has nothing to do with forum topic. Let's end it here.

  • itsdougie on 15/02/2018 - 00:16
    +57

    So they are an existing tenant and now requesting a dog? Mate, the dog already lives there they are just asking you out of courtesy.

    • Davo1111 on 15/02/2018 - 01:13
      +7

      I couldn't bet against that, it's a sure thing.

    • CheapSticks on 15/02/2018 - 06:27
      +8

      yup existing tenant for a year now - new request - unlikely they have one as ours is a small block of 10units - very hard to escapes the strata secretary who hates pet and she is on the prowl most times of the day ! Strata approval is another issue for them !

      • EightImmortals on 15/02/2018 - 06:43

        So there's NO chance it will be an 'outside dog' then?

        • CheapSticks on 15/02/2018 - 07:09

          nopes - will be inside all the time !

        • monkeygod on 17/02/2018 - 11:29
          +2

          @CheapSticks: Jesus Christ. That seems unfair on both the dog and the neighbours. As someone living in an apartment atm (renter), I would be very very upset to see a neighbour have a dog.

        • SpotTheOzzie on 18/02/2018 - 18:55
          -1

          @monkeygod:

          Some people don't have the luxury of owning/living in a house.

          If the dog is well trained, a small little fella that gets walked everyday in the park and doesn't bark/annoy neighbours who are you to judge if one can have the companionship of man's best friend.

        • monkeygod on 19/02/2018 - 13:49

          @SpotTheOzzie: I think the landlord who owns the damn unit has full right to say no pets allowed. It isn't a pet friendly space.

          If you want the luxury of pets, go find a house with a backyard and enjoy paying for that luxury. Jesus christ.

        • SpotTheOzzie on 19/02/2018 - 17:07
          -1

          @monkeygod:

          I mentioned nothing about the landlord dilemma, don't muddy up the thread.

          So you think pet ownership should be entitled to those who can afford owning/renting a house right?

      • field1985 on 15/02/2018 - 17:16
        +2

        If they live in a strata complex, they don't just need your permission, they also need the owners corporation's permission:

        Before being able to have a pet, owners need to ask the owners corporation for permission to keep the pet.
        http://www.fairtrading.nsw.gov.au/biz_res/ftweb/pdfs/About_u…

        • supajuicy on 15/02/2018 - 23:19
          +3

          @fieldo85 - yep are correct. Will need owners corporation approval too.

          My investment property is under Strata and has strict rules on pet ownership which helps with tenants asking about pets - its just simply no to cats and dogs.

    • knk on 15/02/2018 - 17:24
      +1

      This is a good point actually - Better the devil you know (tenant) with the addition of a dog, than having the house untenanted for a bit and finding a new tenant I think.

      Assuming the tenant is a good tenant of course.

  • [Deactivated] on 15/02/2018 - 01:12
    +8

    small dogs are like rats

    • pegaxs on 15/02/2018 - 08:44
      +15

      Tasty to eat?

    • kolorijo on 15/02/2018 - 09:20

      What?

      • Oz8argain on 15/02/2018 - 09:45
        +15

        Tasty to eat?

        • Yttrium on 15/02/2018 - 11:24

          Yes

      • [Deactivated] on 17/02/2018 - 23:19
        +1

        love how dogs are more important than humans

  • whooah1979 on 15/02/2018 - 06:23
    +3

    a small dog.

    Be prepared for millions and millions of short dog hair in every crack and crevice. Then there the issue of canine faeces on the walls and floors.

    Say no.

    • CheapSticks on 15/02/2018 - 06:29
      -1

      thats what my thoughts are currently but that may mean they may leave so thought check out if there is a way out here !

      • blawler05 on 15/02/2018 - 08:17
        +4

        If they want a dog and you say no. One of two things will happen.

        They get a dog anyway and dont tell you.
        They leave

        If they leave. You risk getting bad tenants

        I dont understand why your laminate floors wont take pee. We put laminate floors in on room soley for our animals. Incase there are accidents.

        Ultimately there isnt much you can do. The decision is yours. Yes or no. Then your tenants will decide their course of action based off your decision

        Be prepared to lose them.

        • CheapSticks on 15/02/2018 - 16:37
          +2

          I was told when we bought that they will get damaged if water spill is left on them.

        • knk on 15/02/2018 - 17:31

          @CheapSticks:

          Wrote a long explanation and then lost my comment lol.

          That's true only if left on them.

          They expand, if they hit the edges of the rooms they'll buckle upwards and then basically the flooring is ruined. Excess water absorption will cause that to happen quickly.

          If the dog pees on the floor, and its mopped up there won't be an issue. You can mop laminate floors till your hearts content. 5 years of cheap bunnings crap laminate floors at my old house can confirm that!

        • CheapSticks on 15/02/2018 - 18:02

          @knk:

          Challenge is that both work - so no one there during the day !

        • jjjaar on 15/02/2018 - 18:17
          +4

          @CheapSticks: You've obviously never had dogs because once trained, most dogs can hold it during the day. The pet owners could also use "puppy pads" inside so they only go on those (think flat nappies for the floor). Also, if they are responsible pet owners, I'm sure they would train them in any tiled room in the house.

          That being said, if they're both out for 6+ hours 5 days a week, they shouldn't get a dog.

        • wordplay on 15/02/2018 - 21:15
          +10

          @CheapSticks:
          sounds like you need to issue a water bond too, if the tenants are drinking water in the areas with the special floors there may be the chance of a spill. I wouldn't risk it, find tenants who don't require liquids or ask for a water bond. if they don't spill anything they can have it back at the end of the lease.

        • CheapSticks on 15/02/2018 - 21:18

          @wordplay:

          tenants (not tennents) !

        • wordplay on 15/02/2018 - 21:21

          @CheapSticks:
          sorry, my bad. will amend my post.

        • CheapSticks on 15/02/2018 - 21:23
          -1

          @wordplay: think like a reasonable person - there is a difference between adults vs a dog thats left on its own !

        • blawler05 on 19/02/2018 - 07:56

          @CheapSticks: i just had a look. Laminate flooring should be resistant to water if properly installed to acaerain extent. I wouldnt worry about the floors getting wet with regards to the dog

      • bbourke85 on 16/02/2018 - 16:12
        +3

        Dude, it's Sydney. If they leave you'll have new tenants in a week.

      • Atazoth616 on 17/02/2018 - 00:18

        Tell them to buy a Basenji/(other hypoallergenic dog) if you worried about dog hair.

    • one man clan on 15/02/2018 - 09:12
      +2

      There are lots of dog breeds that don't shed

      • [Deactivated] on 15/02/2018 - 14:59

        There are no dog breeds that don't shed any hairs at all.

        • try2bhelpful on 15/02/2018 - 15:05

          Poodles are likely to be less of an issue.

        • [Deactivated] on 15/02/2018 - 15:08

          @try2bhelpful: Most Terriers don't shed much either, but the Portugese Water dog is my favourite.

        • try2bhelpful on 15/02/2018 - 15:09
          +2

          @4sure: Terriers would end up doing continuous laps in a flat. They are small but every atom of them is energy.

        • one man clan on 15/02/2018 - 15:44

          Hogwash

          I have spoodles now and grew up with purebred poodles. I see more shed human hair in my house. My dogs pick up more hair at the park and shed it in my house than they do their own hair.

        • whooah1979 on 15/02/2018 - 15:59

          @one man clan:

          All dogs shed. Some more than others. Poodles shed, but may leave less hair around their environment.

          https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poodle

          Their individual hair follicles have an active growth period that is longer than that of many other breeds of dogs; combined with the tightly curled coat, which slows the loss of dander and dead hair by trapping it in the curls, an individual poodle may release less dander and hair into the environment. In addition, most poodles are frequently brushed and bathed to keep them looking their best; this not only removes hair and dander, but also controls the other potent allergen, saliva.[

        • knk on 15/02/2018 - 17:27

          @try2bhelpful:

          Can confirm, terrier cross poodle goes hard and does laps of a reasonably sized house in the burbs.

        • try2bhelpful on 15/02/2018 - 19:45

          @knk: they really are energiser bunnies, aren't they? They are bred to be ratters so they tend to be hyperactive. Just wondering if you have an issue with them digging in the garden, given their ratting background.

        • knk on 16/02/2018 - 09:05

          @try2bhelpful:

          On the side of my house I built 2 gates and paved a section, covered the rest in rocks that are too big for him to dig through. There's some low spots where he managed to dig a little, mainly around the pavers where the concrete meets the bigger rocks. Mostly it's a non issue.

          Last night I did laps up and down the house with him for about 15 minutes, the little guy has so much stamina but doesn't know his limits. By the end of it he just lied down and went to sleep lol.

        • try2bhelpful on 16/02/2018 - 10:17

          @knk: Know the feeling, we have two Somali kitties - full sisters.
          We have a converted warehouse with the original beams and various elements that provide them with runs and perching places at around the 12 ft mark. We also put in a shelf to provide them with a rat run between two of the bookcases so there is a constant line against one wall. Our girls just fly around the house at various levels then crash out asleep, usually next to us wanting a tummy rub. My little brother calls them squirrels. One of the reasons I am really happy I have my own property is no one can tell me I can't have my cats. If I had to give them up I would be truly devastated.

          Great you are keeping the exercise up with the dog. I've read articles that say Terriers are good apartment animals and I shake my head in disbelief.

        • knk on 16/02/2018 - 10:21

          @try2bhelpful:

          That sounds like it'd be hilarious to watch, cats must have a good time there.

          The terriers are high energy but because (at least mine) is physically tiny being crossed with a toy poodle all you need to do to tire him out is throw a ball up and down the house for 10 minutes. I can take him on a run and within about 5 minutes I'm carrying him back home lol.

        • try2bhelpful on 16/02/2018 - 10:31

          @knk:
          The cats love it, particularly if they are chasing a fly or a moth; they can jump quite high. We keep explaining to them that vet bills are expensive, but it doesn't stop them.

          What is really funny is when I charge up our parrot car drone and they chase it around the house; they usually stop dead in front of it and then sniff the car. Looking at the video image showing them sniffing the camera and making "prow" noises is something I never tire of. Fortunately the parrot tires are a sort of softish foam so it doesn't hurt them if they run into the pathway but I do try to stop it dead if I see them.

          You sound like your little one is well loved. There is so much awful in the world a pet just gives you a little corner of happiness.

        • Shwayne on 16/02/2018 - 13:30

          There's breeds that shed less hair than humans do though.

        • treeman on 16/02/2018 - 13:32

          @try2bhelpful:

          We have 2 terriers and they just sit on the bed all day. They don't do continuous laps at all, we do however take them for a minimum of 30 minute walk each day.

          We know this as we have a spy camera and no matter if they are left just one room or the whole house this is what they do.

        • try2bhelpful on 16/02/2018 - 15:27

          @treeman: First time I've ever heard of terriers doing that; they are either very well trained, are old, content cause there are two of them or stuck to the bed.

        • treeman on 16/02/2018 - 21:20

          @try2bhelpful:

          Not old at all, just well loved. We haven't trained them professionally either.

          Sometimes dogs are better left in confined spaces as when left in large spaces they do run around anxiously.

      • OzzyOzbourne on 15/02/2018 - 22:59

        There are lots of sheds that don't breed dogs!

    • prinsenhof on 15/02/2018 - 23:27
      +9

      Yeah i really hate when my dog shits all over the walls.

      I'd come home from a hard day at work only to discover the TV is on with the simpsons movie playing in the background with the spider pig music playing, all of a sudden i'd look up and see my dog walking on the damn ceiling shitting everywhere.

      I just lay news paper down now.

      • HumbleCat on 16/02/2018 - 00:44

        He shits all over the walls…? Ceiling? …Are you sure it's a dog? :O

      • whooah1979 on 16/02/2018 - 06:46

        An untrained pup left to its own devices may play with its own faeces. That may include rolling and eating it. It would be reasonable to think that they then scratch their fur on the furniture, floors and walls.

      • [Deactivated] on 16/02/2018 - 09:02

        Maybe ease back on the hallucinogens

      • try2bhelpful on 16/02/2018 - 10:41
        +1

        Perfect reply. I think people are over estimating the problems with owning a pet. Well cared for dogs, with responsible owners, will certainly cause a lot less damage than families with kids. I think expecting an extra bond for an animal is OK, however, it would need to be managed so it covers the expense of any actual damage, not just the landlord finding another way to rip the tenant off. I would also be happy to pay for professional cleaners to steam clean carpets, curtains etc if there was a concern about dirt/smells/hair with the pet being in the house. Personally, I would have no trouble with renting out my place to people with a pet but the pet would need to be suitable for the property and the people would need to come across as knowing how to look after it properly. I'm grateful that all the landlords we had were much more understanding of people's desire for pet companionship than it seems to be nowdays.

        • Baghern on 17/02/2018 - 21:07

          Well you never know until its too late thats the problem…

          Its all risk here…

          Unless the op is in Queensland where renters have power… they should say no and maybe even advise them in a nice way the rules and possible termination of lease if rules are broken

        • try2bhelpful on 18/02/2018 - 07:06

          @Baghern: Personally I don't think this is all risk. The people involved have been good tenants, to date, and they may well find another place that will let them have a pet. The next people who come in may have children who draw on the walls, ride their bikes into fittings, and scratch up the flooring that the OP is so concerned about. That would be a much bigger risk and there is little that the OP can do about it. With the pet he can set conditions, with someone's family you can't.

          If I was the tenants the minute I heard no I would start looking for a new place and give the OP the minimum amount of notice I need to.

  • Euphemistic on 15/02/2018 - 06:32
    +34

    Ultimately it’s your choice. I don’t get the obsession that ‘eberyone’ has to love dogs, dog lovers don’t seem to understand that some people have no interest in dogs and don’t want them in their property.

    I made the mistake of accepting an outdoor dog at our rental, cost us a new fence.

    If YOU don’t want the dog, say no. It’s YOUR property.

    • MetaphorOZB on 15/02/2018 - 17:15
      +2

      Agreed 100% - it's your property so do what you want.

    • OzzyOzbourne on 15/02/2018 - 23:00
      +1

      Just because us dog owners don't care doesn't mean we don't understand!

    • callum9999 on 16/02/2018 - 05:22
      +1

      I think you'll find dog lovers think they shouldn't care as they're not living there, not that the landlord should love dogs…

      The landlord probably doesn't like many of the movies I watch - I should still be allowed to watch them. (A faulty analogy from the landlords perspective of course but it's how many dog lovers will think - my dog didn't damage a single floor or piece of furniture in her whole life)

  • GregMonarch on 15/02/2018 - 07:23
    +7

    If I had the choice I'd say no. Who needs the worry and hassle. If they want a dog that badly they can go and buy their own home and stink that up, instead of your $xxx,xxx investment, and your next tenant's home. Just as smokers can't smell the stench on their own clothes, hair, and breath - dog owners don't think their animals stink to people that don't own one. I've had dog owners swear black and blue their home and dog is so clean, while fleas are jumping on my legs. In fact I don't even have to see a dog to know a home has (or has had) one. I can smell it the moment the front door is opened. In the carpet, a rug, the furniture… It's impossible to get the stench of even the 'cleanest' dog out of carpet. After cleaning the smell seems to go away for a couple of weeks, but then it's back. Luckily the rentals I've lived in allowed me to rip up the carpet after a dog owner has lived there. And with hard floors it could be dog toenail scratches, and/or incessant whining, barking, and scratching on the back of the door 10 minutes after they leave for work. (No-one knows the behaviour of the thing until it's too late and they already own it. Then you're horrible for directing them to get rid of it due to the complaints and/or damage.) Not to mention dog food attracts vermin. I sure wouldn't venture down that road if I had the choice.

  • WreckTangle on 15/02/2018 - 07:24
    +11

    Get renters insurance and let them have a dog. You have said they are good tenants and people like this should be given the benefit of the doubt. Jeez i’ m glad Vic is moving to protect tenants fron unreasonable landlords. I hope nsw follows suit too.

    • GregMonarch on 15/02/2018 - 07:39
      +6

      Well, what's unreasonable to some is quite reasonable to others. Especially in a property they don't own that's worth many thousands of dollars that they're getting the use of for a few hundred a week. No one is forcing any tenant to rent someone else's property. i.e. It sounds like a whim anyway - a novelty - because if they had really wanted a dog, they would have applied for a rental that already had permission. And it's more unreasonable to leave a dog home alone all day, bored stiff, than to say no. It's an animal after all, not a human being with morals, commonsense, or conscience. Who knows what damage it could do or how it will behave. If people want to own animals they should buy their own place or live on a farm. I rent btw… and although I'd like to get my kids a dog and the real estate would probably say yes, I won't. It's not fair on the next person that lives here.

    • SlickMick on 15/02/2018 - 09:42

      The tenants entered into an agreement with no pets. Just that they are asking to have a dog now has me questioning just how "good" they are. They are asking you to back down on a clear condition. I wouldn't even entertain the idea of saying yes.

      Why should you how through the grief of having your home spoilt then try to recover it through insurance?
      This is surely the worst advice ever??

      No state would force a landlord to change the tenancy agreement to allow something that was clearly excluded.

      • kelza83 on 15/02/2018 - 12:27

        There is nothing a landlord can do during a lease period if the tenant gets a pet anyway. In Victoria at least. Once you’ve moved in you can get a dog or a cat and as long as it’s ok by council the landlord has no way of doing anything other than evicting and they would have Buckley’s hope of getting that enforced through vcat. All the tenant has to do is pull the emotional well-being card and the pet stays. My opinion would be that you state you’re not willing to allow a dog in the house. At least by the end of the lease you have more recourse to keep the bond as they’ve broken the terms of their lease. Best case scenario you have some money for repairs to the carpet. You can’t get urine smell out of the underlay. You just have to rip it up and replace.

        • SlickMick on 16/02/2018 - 10:07

          I find that hard to believe. In Qld they'd get 7 days to vacate, and we have the authority of police-enforced removal if necessary.

        • kelza83 on 16/02/2018 - 20:13

          @SlickMick: have you watched A Current Affair in the last 10 years? Can’t do jack about these situations. It’s really hard to evict - well, they can evict but imagine the carnage and fighting and loss of money for the damage regardless. They can say no and one of two things will happen: 1: they’ll respect wishes and not get a dog or 2: they’ll get the dog anyway and regardless of eviction they will probably destroy the place with dog peeing and pooping all over the carpet and scratching hard floors and then loss of income from vacant home etc. choices are few.

      • ozhunter on 15/02/2018 - 12:52
        +3

        Lol, they could be asking because now they decided they would like to have a pet.

        They asked because they know it's excluded and wondering if the landlord had a change of mind, maybe, because they have been good tenants.

      • wordplay on 15/02/2018 - 21:19
        +1

        like the tenants that had an extra person living in the house at the 6 month inspection. They signed the lease saying only 2 people would reside there low and behold an extra person now lives there.
        Told its illegal to evict the newcomer, renters seem to think they own the place.

        • SlickMick on 16/02/2018 - 10:09

          Not in Qld.

        • wordplay on 16/02/2018 - 20:25
          +1

          @SlickMick:
          ok well I tried, but got told people don't have to tell you that they are going to have a baby while living in your house.

    • R-Man on 15/02/2018 - 10:24

      Do you really think this landlord is being unreasonable?

    • whooah1979 on 15/02/2018 - 10:38

      Insurance may compensate for damages, but not for intangible thing like residual odours. It's very difficult to remove odours like cigarette smoke, curry and pets from walls and carpet.

    • MetaphorOZB on 15/02/2018 - 17:18
      +1

      What's unreasonable about OP saying no to a dog if he doesn't want a dog living in HIS property?

    • Agret on 16/02/2018 - 09:20
      +1

      Jeez i’ m glad Vic is moving to protect tenants fron unreasonable landlords

      Not allowing cats/dogs is far from unreasonable

  • ms_caz on 15/02/2018 - 07:34
    +7

    Your new laminate floors WILL be scratched. No doubt at all. If it is an inside dog there will be pee "accidents". Insurance will not cover this because it is not malicious damage. It IS going to cost you.

    • nickj on 15/02/2018 - 11:07
      +4

      It might depend on the laminate. In a previous rental, we had a cat (which we never declared to the agent precisely because of the "just say no" attitude on display here), he ran around regularly with claws out, and the laminate was fine. He also sometimes had accidents (of all the 3 possible types), and incredibly easy to clean up on a laminate floor. Our kid also dropped a tonne of food & drink when he was young, and it all cleaned up fine too. Having only had carpet before, I became a total convert to laminate flooring throughout, especially in rentals (for both the tenant and the owner), especially the type with no gaps between the panels, so there's nowhere for material to get trapped.

      In fact the only notable damage to the laminate floor came when the owner was too cheap to maintain the plumbing (flexible hot water hose under the bathroom vanity rusted through and pierced the inner rubber, would have taken maybe 5 years of corrosion to wear through). It failed during the night and flooded several rooms with thousands of litres of hot water. The floor buckled and warped, and the whole apartment's laminate had to be replaced, and we had to move elsewhere. The property was off the market for 6 months whilst it got repaired (lots of drying with heaters + mould treatment required + repainting as the walls got water in them + they also replaced the bathroom that was destroyed by the water + at same time redid the other bathroom + kitchen). So in the end, the agent's laziness (and omg were they and pretty much all rental agents that I've seen are extremely lazy), and the owner's apparent indifference and reluctance to do proper maintenance, were the things that actually killed the flooring.

    • original15 on 15/02/2018 - 11:28
      +1

      IMO thought laminate was good to cope with spills/liquid? We laid floating floorboard (bamboo) and it’s been fine with water spills but thought laminate would cope even better..any flooring experts out there know?

      • kelza83 on 15/02/2018 - 12:21

        Floating floors and rental properties with pets equals a disaster!!! Vinyl (Lino) all the way. Floating floorboards warp and buckle ugh :(

        • knk on 15/02/2018 - 17:43

          I installed laminate at my old place and new.

          The old place had them for 5 years and I mop like an idiot, water everywhere lol. They never swelled or buckled or anything.

          I think the issue is with poor installation and a lack of expansion joins. Either that or durability varies greatly.

          I've had a small dog a little under a year and he hasn't made any noticeable scratches, he was also toilet trained and there have been no issues / damage.

          That said, I'd rather my tenants didn't have a dog. Just less risk.

      • mattyman on 15/02/2018 - 13:05
        +1

        Bamboo should be ok. Most Bamboo boards (which claim to be environmentally friendly) are actually mulched Bamboo mixed in with a resin.

        The laminate ones are protected on the surface, but if water is left to sit on the joins, they swell.

  • derpdeder on 15/02/2018 - 07:41
    +4

    Check your body corporate by laws too if it is an apartment. You might need to get approval first on your tenant's behalf.

  • barbarella on 15/02/2018 - 08:02
    +5

    I'd say 'No' if it was my place…let them find another place where they can have a dog…

  • Blue Suby on 15/02/2018 - 08:45
    +8

    IMO it's cruel to leave a dog all day while the owner's at work. I had a 'no pets' on a rental house we owned but the tenants and the kids did more damage than the pet probably would! Have you inspected the apartment yourself? What my agent said was well maintained and what I eventually saw when the last tenants moved out cost us $3k to repair/clean/replace and they wondered why they didn't get bond back!

    • CheapSticks on 15/02/2018 - 14:25
      +3

      no I havent - may be i will go and see at the next inspection.

  • kolorijo on 15/02/2018 - 09:21
    +3

    I love dogs but I also love my investment, I would say no to it.

  • Rel63 on 15/02/2018 - 09:42
    +3

    I've been a renter for a long time and feel the owners/real estates attitude had a big affect on how the tenant treats the place. My usual is to consider it like my own and look after it as such thought at times the effort to do so has wanted when is been shown the owner/real estate does not give a dam. If ì I am ever in the situation to be an owner of a rental I would prefer a dog to children as I've seen more damage from kids in the houses I've rented.

    • SlickMick on 15/02/2018 - 09:45
      +1

      Good point.

      OP: put no children also on next rental agreement

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