Convince Your Landlord to Accept Your Cat

Not all rental properties allow pets and where they don't, an agonizing decision often faces prospective tenants about what to do – keep looking for a pet-friendly place or ask someone else to take your pet. In the case of a cat, it may be worth your while asking in spite of a stated policy of "no pets". There are some things you can say and prove to help your landlord see the value in taking you on as a tenant with your cat as well.

Steps

  1. Be in good stead as a Be a Good Tenant yourself. Have excellent references and no credit problems behind you in terms of rental payments; demonstrate that you're a tenant who pays on time, every time. As part of your references, get current and previous landlords to include your cat's behavior and yours as a cat owner to be included as positive testimony.
  2. If there is an agent involved, try to set up a meeting to discuss your pet needs. Many agents will see the value in a tenant who presents well, has excellent references, and is a timely payer, as well as being a responsible pet owner. If you can get the rental agent on your side, they may well try to convince the landlord on your behalf that you are a safe bet with the cat.
  3. Be prepared to show your cat's veterinary records. This should show that your cat's medical records are up-to-date, that your cat has regular check-ups and appropriate vaccinations, and that there are no noted problems. Bear in mind that landlords worry about issues such as damage to property by clawing, vomiting, and scratching, as well as such problems as noise (keeping the neighbors awake). It is best (and sensible) if your cat is neutered or spayed; it's not likely to endear you to a landlord if your cat is eligible to produce kittens or cause Tom cat fights around the vicinity, along with spraying!
    • As part of this, explain how you keep fleas under control. Landlords can be concerned about flea infestations in their property. If you can show them that you regularly remove your cat's fleas effectively, this may be helpful.
  4. Avoid looking at places where cats are forbidden by the corporate body or other association representing the entire apartment/condo/unit, etc. complex. You won't get them to change their mind. If you stay clear of places where the rules cannot be changed, you have a greater likelihood of convincing the landlord.
    • Look in the right places for the right Buying Property. Check out pet-friendly tenancies online using rental sites focused on pet owners, as well as looking for or asking about rentals in such places as pet shelters, veterinary offices, pet stores, and pet owner's clubs.[1]
  5. Be up front. Don't wait until you've been accepted for the Create a Profitable Property Portfolio and you're about to sign on the dotted line to bring up your feline companion. You need to have raised the fact that you'd like to have a cat in your rental property as part of the assessment for suitability process. Simply say something like:
    • "I love this property and I am immediately available to move into it. I have a well-behaved cat and I have veterinary references to show she is healthy and I have previous landlord references to show that she has been well-behaved in the other place(s) I have lived. I pay on time and I am a clean, tidy, and very careful tenant who would love to have the opportunity to live here and care for this place as my own."
  6. Ask your landlord to meet your pet. If your landlord can see your clean, well-behaved, well-fed, and contented cat, as well as your confident handling of your cat, this might help convince the landlord that this will work in your case.
  7. Expect the possibility of additional bonds and conditions. If your landlord is convinced you're a safe bet as a tenant with a cat, you may still have to pay extra bond to cover potential pet damage and you may be subject to pet-specific clauses. This will depend on the laws in your jurisdiction and the wishes of your landlord. Weigh it up against not having the place and not having your pet, to see if the additional costs and conditions are worth it.
    • Be prepared, regardless of extra conditions, to offer to remove all traces of your cat's presence from the residence upon your departure. Offer to pay for Cleaning that covers removal of fleas and hair, and to replace anything that may have been scratched or chewed.
    • If you asked for, and got, the right to include a cat-flap, be sure to offer to restore the door to its original condition upon leaving, such as restoring a pane of glass.[2]
    • Consider offering to pay a slightly increased rent for having your cat included, if you can afford it. That might just sweeten the deal.

Tips

  • Let your landlord know how you plan to prevent scratching, such as by having adequate scratching posts available.
  • Consider looking for a non-furnished place over a furnished one. A cat scratching your furniture is infinitely more desirable than a cat scratching your landlord's!
  • Realize that some landlords will have had bad experiences with pets (they're unlikely to differentiate between the species) and they are soured by the acts of an irresponsible pet owner. Fixing damage is costly to landlords and if they can avoid it, they'll choose to avoid it. Try to ease the landlord into understanding that cats are low maintenance, clean, and don't behave like dogs!
  • Make sure you have plenty of time to search for a suitable property. That way you won't feel as pressured to take a property that you feel is ill-suited, or to make a terrible decision about giving away your pet.
  • Let the landlord know of the benefits of renting to tenants with pets – for one thing, pet owners are less likely to leave earlier because their pet gets used to the place as much as the owner.[1]

Warnings

  • Remember that some landlords will not be in a position to say yes, as some will be subject to the rules of the place they own, or any leasehold conditions they may be operating under.
  • Avoid the temptation to sneak in your cat. One way or other, you will get found out and it won't be a very happy situation for you as a tenant.

Related Articles

Sources and Citations

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 http://realestate.msn.com/article.aspx?cp-documentid=19186150
  2. ↑ http://www.findaproperty.com/displaystory.aspx?edid=00&salerent=0&storyid=8489
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