How To Find A Dog-friendly Rental In Melbourne ?

[LabsRock61a]

Hi everyone,

I've just moved to Melbourne, and have been trying to find a place to rent for the last few weeks. It's been really frustrating ! Do you have any tips for me ?

I have written a nice little blurb explaining how I train and care for my dog, and I have "references" for him (FYI, he's in quarantine right now as we just moved from the USA, he has his CGC, his UD/RAE/APDT Level 3 and has passed his therapy dog certification). I try to chat up the agents who are at the inspections, but they seem to be very inexperienced youngsters who have no clue about either the property or what the property owner would/wouldn't accept. If I hear the words "oh I don't know if the owner would consider your dog, but come to the inspection anyway and submit an application and we'll see what we get !", I will scream.

I've been focusing on suburbs in the inner North (Brunswick, Kensington, Flemington, Moonee Ponds, Northcote), but although I've submitted applications, I keep getting knocked back because of my poor dog. I've widened my search area, but I'm getting really cranky.

Got any tips for a newbie to the Melbourne rental scene ?

[minimax]

Are you looking at properties advertised as pet friendly?

[Nik]

I know quite a few people in my area who rent with dogs. I'm in Melbourne's inner west (Williamstown/Newport/Spotswood area)

[LabsRock61a]

minimax - there are almost no properties that specifically say "pet friendly". In fact, when I see an ad that says "NO PETS !" I really am thankful to that owner for saying that ! The strategy seems to be for owners to be silent on the pet situation, and few agents are willing to ask them. There are loads of people going to inspections (and I assume plenty of applications being submitted), so I guess it's just easier to go with non-dog folks. I get it, I really do ... it's just frustrating. If I knew that a particular property REALLY wouldn't consider pets, I wouldn't waste my time going to that inspection, since there are often 2 or 3 other inspections at the same time.

Nik - thanks for the tip. What's the commute to Parkville like from there ?

[minimax]

Do you call the real estate during the week, prior to the inspection, and ask them to find out about the pet status?

When I was looking for my place I mostly stuck to ones advertised as pet friendly (on realestate.com.au and domain.com.au), but if there was one I really liked and not specified as pet friendly, I'd call the agent and have them ask the owner so then if they said a flat-out no I wouldn't waste my time, but if they said they would consider it, I'd go prepared to the inspection.

I'd have the application filled out, with all my supporting documents ready, so if I liked it and wanted to apply I'd hand it to the agent then and there.

[Panto]

I was the opposite, I would see the place, befriend the showing agent, put in and application then ask. By that stage they're already batting for you as the applicant for the landlord to choose.

Good luck!

Ps. I wrote a pet 'cv' for my girl. Your blurb/references is a great idea! :)

[ness]

No advice but welcome LabsRock :D.

[Pretty Miss Emma]

Have you thought about offering an extra bond? Or even offering to pay $5-10 more a week? I know it's often tight money-wise but maybe that would sway somebody?

[LabsRock61a]

Sadly, most of the agents just don't call back when I call them during the week. The ones that do, umm and aaahhhh about specifically asking the owners. Clearly they don't want to be bothered when they know that there will be loads of other applicants. In fact, today I *did* manage to talk with a decisionmaking agent about a property that *is* advertised as pet-friendly. It's a long way out of my way tomorrow (I'll try to get to 8 inspections), so I called to double-check that it's pet-friendly. He was really reluctant to commit, and said that the owners really only want a small dog if any at all. Grrrrr. Can I disguise a 23kg Lab as a SWF ?

I tried befriending the agents actually showing the properties, but then discovered that they aren't the decisionmakers at all (in fact, many of them have never seen the properties before, and don't know the owners - they are the most junior kids in the office that get sent out to open the door and write down names and phone numbers). I've tried approaching the decisionmaking agents by phone, but have the callback problem mentioned above.

Thanks ness ;-)

Yup I've offered to double the security deposit. Haven't offered increased rent yet because I thought that might be considered a bribe, but am at a point where I'll try that. Also actually thought about flat-out bribing the agents ;-)

Sigh.

[Esky the husky]

Here's my tips, not specific to Melbourne, never rented there but have had success in Adelaide, Outer SA, and regional NSW.

Pet resume's / references are a great idea.

Mine were one page with pics, I also included a little bio about my bf and I.

Went to all the open houses with all the application forms already pre filled, if I liked the house, I handed it straight over to the agent.

If the forms weren't available online, I got them at the open house filled them out and submitted them to the real estate office that day.

Kept a folder on me with copies of ID, previous leases etc, whatever they'd need to see.

On two separate occasions we ended up getting friendly with the agents, and they approved us and essentially let us pick from a couple of houses. Small property management companies are good for that. We dealt with one that only had two in the office and only did rentals. Double edged sword there though, they were always on our case when it came to inspections... etc

We've had incredible success, so far 100% of houses we've applied for have approved us. Good Luck

Oh and none of these were listed as pet friendly, I just avoided ones that said 'no pets'

Edited March 15, 2013 by Esky the husky

[Sue & Waldo]

these links might help. I know people who used the first site to find a rental house.

http://www.rentalrealestate.com.au/?pagecall=content&contentID=61684

http://australia.trovit.com/property/for-rent-pet-friendly-melbourne

[zeebie]

Sometimes you can get a place where there is an elderly owner who needs someone to live in and help out and they are often more then happy to have pet as company. so you could go this angle, my daughter had to move to victoria for a year with her work and she lived in a granny flat attached to main house and did shopping /cooking and other little household tasks in exchange for very cheap rent and the family having peice of mind that there mum had an adult close handy in case of trouble. Her dog was a great asset and when she was returning to QLD the family were sad to see her go.

there is also another organisation which is house sitters Australia, http://www.aussiehousesitters.com.au/ they have a data base with lots of people registered who need long term house sitting and or pet sitting it does cost to register but it might be a short term fix. http://www.happyhousesitters.com.au/?gclid=CMrFwvvz_rUCFQExpgod1T8AXA

Also try this particular real estate who specialises in pet friendly accomodation

http://www.rentalrealestate.com.au/index.cfm?pagecall=content&ContentID=61684&MenuItemID=92591&subject=Pet_Friendly_Search

Edited March 15, 2013 by zeebie

[Alyra]

Never had a problem finding pet friendly rental in Melbourne.

What we do - look at older houses. Ones with floorboards (landlords may not want to risk their carpet). Older houses landlords won't be as worried about. The one we're in now is a partially renovated older style one and it wasn't advertised as pet friendly, but we did what Esky does - went to the inspection with the application form pre-filled along with the blurb about the dog and that he's does obedience etc. and we were upfront that we foster rescue dogs too. (And have 2 cats).

We were approved for two this time around hunting - and the last people were great.

We're in the western suburbs. If you want to PM me I can tell you some agents that are good about dogs in my experience.

[Purdie]

http://www.petfriendlyrentals.com.au/

Welcome to Melbourne.........:)

[rebelsquest]

I know quite a few people in my area who rent with dogs. I'm in Melbourne's inner west (Williamstown/Newport/Spotswood area)

Inner west seems to have quite a few pet friendly rentals. Most of them are listed on realestate.com.au as pet friendly. Century 21 at Williamstown are one agent who seem to list quite a few pet friendly rentals.

[Panzer Attack]

You've chosen one of THE highest demand rental areas of VIC and also one where most people with pets lie and say they don't have them (worked there in the pet industry for a couple of years). Good luck. I would definitely be looking further out, ESPECIALLY with a large breed dog.

I have 2 small dogs (was 1 when I was looking in the area - he weighed 3kg) and found it nigh on impossible to find a place. You might be lucky if you look for a share with another dog-owner that owns a house in the area but even they are rare as hen's teeth.

[LabsRock61a]

Thanks everyone.

Well, I inspected 9 properties today, ranging from Kensington to Preston, and then headed out to do some drive-bys in Williamstown and Newport.

I had a bit of luck - I turned up early at one property, chatted with the young lady from the agency (she has dogs), and met the owner, who was leaving with his small dog ;-) He seemed very receptive to considering my dog. Fingers crossed !

Anyways, I plan to put in several applications and continue with the search, this time extending the search in the Williamstown/Newport area.

Thanks again !

[Pretty Miss Emma]

With a dog, I'd LURVE to be living in Williamstown/Newport - beach visits every day!!!!

[IggyLover]

Umm, am I the only person who hasn't told my estate agent about my pets? I never have.

For the last 10 years since leaving home I have rented with pets and never put them on my application, to date I have not had any issues.

I have been at my current house for 14 months, I have 2 Italian Greyhounds, approx 60 snakes and a shed full of rodents lol I live in Kew in Melbourne's inner East.

I would advise not to tell the agents. If your dog is well trained and does not damage the property then in my opinion they don't need to know.

The property managers in Melbourne as you say are 12 year olds in suits, they have no clue and swear they just pluck applications out like a 'lucky dip'!!

[Aetherglow]

Australia's attitude to renting and pets is ridiculous. My sister once lived in a set of about 12-15 units which had a strict no pets policy, and every single one had at least one cat, including my sister. I know someone else who got sprung with a short-notice property inspection after requesting (and being refused) permission to keep a turtle in a fishtank to make sure she didn't already have the turtle I know its common, but you can be evicted if you're caught or made to get rid of a pet at extremely short notice which can be very traumatic. Better to do it above board if at all possible.

Good luck with your search, LabsRock! I live in the inner north-east of Melbourne, and competition for rentals is pretty intense. Your commute to Parkville is likely to be about the same from Footscray and Yarraville in peak hour, I would think, I'm not so sure about Williamstown as I don't know how heavy the traffic is. It can take me up to an hour from my place to Parkville if I try in morning peak, so I'm glad I usually only have to do it once a month :)