Renting with pets

[HerFlowersToLove]

We will be completing on our house sale in a few weeks and have yet to find what we want to buy. It's been difficult as we currently live several hundred miles from where we are relocating to.

We are considering renting over the winter, something we've never done before, but we have cats and a dog. Is it going to be difficult to find somewhere that will take pets? We want to live rurally rather than in a city, so am hoping that might make it easier. People have suggested Airbnb, but because the period encompasses Christmas, renting that way is incredibly expensive. Any advice gratefully received.

I would say you will likely find it close to impossible if you tell them you have pets.

Possibly if you offer a bigger damages deposit

I have done exactly this! We have 2 cats and I found it very difficult to find an unfurnished apartment that would take them but I did find a choice of 4. We needed an apartment (so that narrowed it down), ground floor (narrowed again) with french doors (so outside access and narrowed it down further). If you are looking at a house you might have more options. Finally, the apartment we chose allowed cats because we said we would pay "pet rent". It's not very much and it gives the landlord some comfort. I did offer an enhanced deposit but they can't do that anymore understandably. I think if you approach as many as possible, preferably unfurnished so the landlord's furniture will not be damaged and explain what your pets are like (how old they are, whether they are prone to accidently damaging things) and how you respond to it (so if they cause damage you will pay for it etc) you should find a few places. I looked at Airbnb and whilst it would accept dogs in some places they didn't mention cats.

We’ve moved in to rented a couple of times with a Cat and a dog. The first time the landlord was a farmer and couldn’t see why anyone wouldn’t have pets so he was very agreeable. The second time we paid 6 months rent up front so although the landlady originally said no, she changed her mind.
I’d also look out for rental properties that have been empty for quite a while as the the landlord may want to get tenants with or without pets.

Possibly if you offer a bigger damages deposit
Isn’t that illegal now?

Thanks everyone. A farm cottage would be ideal. We could pay the full amount up front if needed so that might be an option.

We have two cats and were advised by an estate agent not to generally disclose that info until the viewing, as once they meet you and see that you're good people they can and will advocate for you to the landlord, whereas a lot of the time you'll get shut down straight away if asking at initial point of inquiry. In my experience it hasnt been a dealbreaker, though i dont have a dog. Obviously if the listing specifies no pets thats a no-go. Its whether you want to risk dissapointment / time wasting if they do say no anyway, but might be worth considering getting a foot in the door first if you do find everywhere shuts you down. National trust properties might be worth looking at also.

Zoopla has a Pets Considered filter option (Rightmove doesn't) which does filter out a lot but at least you'll find some who are amenable to allowing pets. Looking for unfurnished rural properties will certainly be in your favour.

www.letswithpets.org.uk/ is a good website for some extra info on how to approach this.

We live rurally and have managed it.

In general I would look for the rural type estate agents (hard to explain but where we live there's a couple where you would advertise rural / equestrian type houses. Also higher end but they tend to have estate / farm cottages as well by default)

We signed up to a monthly plan at the vets that covers flea and worm treatment. Agreed to a professional deep clean when we leave. Agree to more frequent inspections if you would be happy to facilitate this.

I let out a flat. I'd allow a cat, but not dogs. The tenant in my house (I live overseas at times) had an undisclosed dog and the house smelled of dog when she left.

Thank you. We're looking in Scotland and although we are quite specific on the area we want to buy, as long as it's rural we arent too fussy on where we rent.

I moved to the west country with my 19 year old cat. All she does is sleep and she is not destructive.
I needed to rent while I looked for a house to buy as my job had started. I had a hell of a job renting anywhere, it was a resounding no at every place I looked at.
I live on my own so only wanted a small place, in the end the only place that would take me and the cat was a holiday lodge which cost me a grand a month!! Rent in the town for a one bed flat is normally around £400.
It's a bloody good thing I love my cat because we had to live there for 6 months while I was still paying the mortgage for my old place and house hunting.
I've finally bought a home and the mortgage is only £300 a month as everything is cheaper here but that £1600 a month nearly finished me off.
My cat is my baby and no way was I giving her up.

My daughter rents her unfurnished house to a family with a dog.

They then asked if they could get a second dog and she agreed because they are good tenants, keep the property in good order and pay their rent on time. She’s just happy to have good tenants!

As a landlord I don’t mind dogs, but you’d really have to convince me about your cat-but I’m definitely open to having a conversation.
I get the impression from our property manager a lot of landlords have a similar attitude to me

Try openrent.

Also if it doesn't specifically say 'no pets' call and ask. I spent 4 hours doing that when we moved (we w bought now thank god). And just plough through the list you have. Don't take it personally if they say no just put the phone down and onto the next one.