Creating a pet-friendly rental space is essential for ensuring both you and your furry friends are comfortable. From choosing the right flooring to ensuring there are safe, designated areas for your pets, making adjustments can turn any rental into a welcoming haven for both you and your pets. Here’s how to make your rental a cosy home for your companions.
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Adrian Goslett, Regional Director and CEO of RE/MAX of Southern Africa, warns tenants that it can be tricky to find a pet-friendly rental property. “Because pet-friendly rentals are hard to come by, it’s best to establish yourself as a good tenant and to prevent any possible pet damages to the property,” he recommends.
Goslett says as rewarding as it is to own a cat, it doesn’t come without its hazards to your other belongings. By taking some necessary precautions, you can create a safe and stimulating environment for your cat while keeping your apartment intact.
To help tenants prepare their homes for their feline friends, RE/MAX of Southern Africa provides some tips on how to prevent damage and keep your cats safe from harm.
Secure electrical cords:
Use cord covers or double-sided tape to secure electrical cords and prevent chewing. Consider using cord organizers to keep cords tidy and less tempting.
Close off escape routes:
Install sturdy screens on windows to prevent your cat from escaping or falling. If you have a balcony, ensure that it is enclosed or has cat-safe netting. Before making any fixtures to the walls, make sure you have your landlord’s permission first. It can also be useful to introduce yourself to neighbours so that they can let you know if your cat ever gets out.
Secure furniture:
Anchor bookshelves, TVs, and other heavy items to the wall to prevent them from tipping over. Ensure that decorative items are stable and cannot be easily knocked over. To prevent stains on the carpets and flooring, try not to leave a vase or glass of red wine somewhere easily knocked over.
Regular cleaning:
Keeping a litterbox indoors can lead to some pungent odours, so be sure to clean this out daily. Stock up on lint rollers and rubber brooms to make sure you’re able to deal with the never-ending fluff problem.
“Cat-proofing your apartment is an essential step when renting. Regularly checking for potential hazards and securing heavy items will help prevent accidents and possible damages to the property,” says Goslett.
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Seeff shares guidelines to ensure your home is pet-friendly and your pets are not a nuisance to neighbours:
1. Size of the dog
It is important to remember that bigger dog breeds require big yards or gardens on top of having access to areas where these dogs can be exercised. Small- and medium-sized breeds are usually fine for small yards and complexes, but a bigger dog will definitely need a bigger yard.
2. Responsible pet ownership
It is important to ensure that your pets are micro-chipped in case they get out of your property. Spaying your animals is another important aspect, and also assists in preventing roaming in some instances.
3. Noisy dogs, straying cats
These are some of the biggest bones to pick amongst neighbours, especially in sectional schemes. If you are moving from a full title house and have a dog which is used to more yard space, moving to a complex with a tiny yard might be a problem for your pet.
4. Check the complex rules
Even pet-friendly complexes still have rules of conduct. Be sure to check these in addition to obtaining permission for your pet/s. Remember, the complex would be quite entitled to force you to get rid of your pets if they are a nuisance to neighbours.
5. Pet-friendly house rules
There are many innovations for pet owners such pet doors to allow them easy access into and out of the home. Other innovations include built-in feeding bowls and water systems, odourless cat litter and so on. You even create a special wash area with a shower hose.
6. Sitters and groomers
If you are going away, you no longer need to take your pets to a kennel, but can get a pet sitter to stay in your home and look after your pets. Mobile groomers are another marvel of modern living and spare you a rather stressful trip to the groomers.
7. Moving tips
Cats are much harder to acclimatise and should be kept indoors for a period until they become used to the smells. Dogs are also territorial and would need to be kept in a secure area. It’s best to move our pets last, so that they can pick up on the old home smells in the new house.
8. Buy in a pet-friendly complex and neighbourhood
If you are a pet lover, then ensure that you buy or rent in a pet-friendly neighbourhood. A concrete jungle is, for example, not conducive to owning a dog, rather opt for a neighbourhood with more greenery and facilities suitable to dogs.
9. Pet-friendly finishes and furnishings
Think of your finishes and furnishings if you intend on being a pet owner. Dogs run around, and so hard-wearing floors such as tiles are probably better than carpets in the main areas. Stay clear of white couches and train your pets on how to behave in the home.
10. Odours and allergies
Invest in a good pet vacuum and ensure all hairs and other debris are vacuumed thoroughly on a regular basis. Air out the property daily to ensure that it is free from pet odours. Water, food bowls and litter boxes should also be cleaned daily.
11. Pet-friendly gardens
Be mindful that there are some plants which are toxic to animals including some of the most common houseplants such as Mistletoe, Philodendron and Poinsettia. Be mindful too of flowers which attract a lot of bees. Rather keep your garden as pet-friendly as possible.
12. Show houses and pets
When you put your house on the market, remember to clean and air it out. Not all buyers are pet lovers and poor pet conditions, cat hairs and pet odours can be very off-putting. It is also best to take your pets with you on the show days to enable your agent to show your property in its best possible condition.
READ: Create a pet-friendly garden and add value to your property
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