How responsible pet care keeps pet-friendly rentals open
Pet-friendly rentals can be hard to find in South Africa and for many pet guardians the words “no pets” are heartbreaking. A landlord’s reluctance often comes from fears about damage and nuisance, sometimes after a difficult experience with a previous tenant. By meeting our pets’ daily needs, taking complaints seriously and introducing our pets honestly with a short pet CV, each of us can help keep doors open for the next pet. Pet-friendly starts with pet-responsible.
Why the way we care for our pets matters beyond our own front door
If you have ever searched for a home with a dog or cat to consider, you will know how quickly the words ‘pet friendly’ become the first thing you look for.
You find a place that looks promising. The rent might just work, there is a little garden, or a sunny window where you can already imagine your cat sleeping. Then you read a little further.
No pets.
For many of us, those words feel painfully personal. The cat or dog sleeping at our feet, greeting us at the door or keeping us company through a difficult evening is part of our family. We cannot simply consider re-homing due to lack of available pet friendly accommodation, but for many people in South Africa, this is a tragic reality.
This heartbreak, disappointment and stress deserve understanding and we should consider what makes people willing, or unwilling, to welcome pets into their properties. As pet guardians, we should also seriously consider the part we can play in keeping those doors open.
Why do landlords say no to pets?
Sometimes a landlord’s reluctance follows an experience they do not want to repeat. Perhaps a previous tenant left damaged flooring, allowed waste to accumulate in the garden, or ignored repeated complaints from neighbours. Perhaps the landlord tried to raise a concern and nothing changed.
Other landlords may never have rented to someone with a pet. Their concerns come from assumptions or stories they have heard. Housing research has identified fears about damage and nuisance as barriers to renting with animals, including concerns held by landlords without previous experience of pet-owning tenants. Although the research was conducted in Canada, there is relevance to South Africa, as many of the same concerns have been voiced on rental social media groups.
It is easy to see how an unresolved problem could leave someone reluctant to say yes again. Unfortunately, the next applicant may be a thoughtful guardian whose pet has very different needs and whose approach to care is entirely different.
Blanket bans overlook those differences. Responsible guardians should be considered fairly. At the same time, we need to recognise that our own choices can influence how people feel about sharing their spaces with animals.
What does responsible pet guardianship look like day to day?
We love our pets deeply and we would be devastated to lose them. Yet love does not always help us notice where their daily lives need more attention.
Life gets busy. We feed the dog, put out water, rush to work and come home tired. The garden is there, so we assume the dog has enough to do. The cat seems independent, so we assume they are coping.
It helps to pause and imagine the day from their perspective. What do they do while we are away? Can they rest comfortably? Do they have activities they enjoy? Can they toilet when they need to? Are we asking them to cope with something they find frightening?
Dogs need appropriate activity, opportunities to explore and sniff, suitable chewing and scavenging activities and social contact that suits the individual. Exercise should take account of age and health. A garden can offer space, but we still need to consider the quality of the time our dog spends there and how they cope during our absences.
Cats need places to hide, climb, rest and scratch, as well as play and comfortable access to food, water and litter trays. Scratching is normal feline behaviour and providing suitable scratching surfaces is part of caring for the cat while helping protect the home. These environmental needs apply even to the quiet cat who rarely draws attention to themselves.
Good guardianship grows through noticing these ordinary details and adjusting when something is missing.
What should you do when someone complains about your pet?
A complaint about our pet can make us defensive. We may feel embarrassed, worried about our home, or hurt that someone sees the animal we love as a nuisance. Those feelings are understandable but before we respond, we need to find out what is happening.
A dog barking or damaging a door when left alone may be experiencing separation-related distress. A cat urinating outside the litter tray may have a medical problem or be struggling with their environment. Pain can also contribute to changes in behaviour. What looks like a property problem may be a sign that a pet needs help.
Having a pet with a behaviour difficulty does not make someone an irresponsible guardian. A devoted person can be caring for an anxious dog or a cat whose health needs have changed. Progress may take time, even with appropriate support.
Our responsibility is to take the concern seriously. We can record what happens while we are away, speak to our veterinarian and seek help from a qualified, credentialed behaviour professional who uses science-based methods. We can also explain to our neighbour/s what we are doing and keep them informed.
The pressure to stop a complaint quickly must not come at the animal’s expense. Research has associated aversive training methods with poorer welfare, including more signs of stress. Support should address what the animal finds difficult, using reward-based approaches and appropriate veterinary care. We need to pay attention to how the pet feels as well as what others hear or see.
Our neighbours share the experience
We know our own animals intimately. Our neighbours may experience them very differently.
We see a much-loved dog. Someone next door may hear hours of barking while trying to sleep after a night shift. We see a friendly dog approaching to say hello. The person being approached may be frightened, or walking a dog who needs space. We see our cat enjoying a wander. A neighbour may be dealing with fouled flower beds or a resident cat repeatedly frightened by the visitor.
Being considerate means making room for those experiences. With our dogs, we must be mindful to pick up waste, secure gates and supervise them in shared spaces, give people and other animals room to pass and ask before allowing your dog to approach and respect the answer.
For cats, consider ways to offer safe outdoor access, such as a catio or suitable cat-proof fencing, alongside an engaging home environment. Changes need to be introduced with attention to the cat’s comfort and opportunities to express normal behaviour.
If someone raises a concern, we can listen without treating it as an attack on our pet or our own ego. Asking when and what happens, acknowledging the disruption and following up are small actions that can help us work together.
How to help a landlord feel confident saying yes
When looking for a rental, it can help to introduce the pet behind the application. A short pet CV gives a landlord something more specific to consider than the word ‘cat’ or ‘dog’.
You could include a photograph and a little about your pet’s age, routine and needs, together with:
- References from previous landlords who can describe how you cared for their property.
- Relevant identification, vaccination and sterilisation records, where applicable.
- Your plan for toileting, cleaning, safe containment and care while you are away.
- Any behaviour support already in place and how you manage known difficulties.
We must be honest about the pet we actually live with. Health records document aspects of care but they cannot guarantee behaviour. For example, if your dog struggles with being alone, explain the support and arrangements you have in place. A realistic plan gives someone more to work with than a promise that nothing will ever go wrong.
Discuss pet permission and responsibilities clearly and get the agreement in writing. If a deposit or additional insurance option is proposed, clarify its cost, terms and actual cover.
The next pet matters too
Even the most conscientious guardian may struggle to find suitable housing. Fair consideration from landlords and managing bodies matters and financial pressure can make both housing and pet care harder and people trying to do the right thing need practical support.
We can also ask ourselves what experience we are leaving for the people around us. When we listen to concerns, care for the property and get help when our pets need it, we give someone a reason to feel more comfortable welcoming a pet next time.
That next pet may belong to a family we will never meet. They may be the dog beside someone scrolling through rental listings tonight, or the cat whose guardian is hoping to find another sunny window.
Being a responsible pet guardian means understanding that our choices do not only affect our own pets. They shape how welcome the next pet will be.
DISCLAIMER: This article is for general educational purposes and does not replace individual advice from your veterinarian or a qualified animal behaviour professional. If your pet’s behaviour changes suddenly, or you are concerned about their health or wellbeing, please consult your veterinarian. Information about renting with pets is general guidance only and is not legal advice. Please check your lease and your complex or body corporate rules and seek professional advice where needed.
FAQ Section
Q: Why do so many landlords say no pets?
A: Many landlords refuse pets because of a past experience they do not want to repeat, such as damaged flooring, waste left in the garden or unresolved complaints from neighbours. Others have never rented to someone with a pet and are guided by assumptions or stories they have heard. Understanding these concerns helps pet guardians respond to them when applying for pet-friendly rentals.
Q: How do I get a landlord to allow my pet in a rental?
A: Introduce the pet behind the application. Share a short pet CV with a photograph, references from previous landlords, relevant records and your plan for toileting, cleaning, containment and care while you are away. Be honest about any difficulties and how you manage them. Nothing guarantees a yes, but specific, realistic information gives a landlord more to consider. Always get the agreement in writing.
Q: What should a pet CV for a rental application include?
A: A pet CV usually includes a photograph and a short description of your pet’s age, routine and needs. Add references from previous landlords, identification, vaccination and sterilisation records where applicable, your plan for toileting, cleaning and safe containment, and any behaviour support already in place. Keep it honest. It helps landlords offering pet-friendly rentals see an individual animal, not just the word dog or cat.
Q: What should I do if my neighbour complains about my dog barking?
A: Take the concern seriously and find out what is happening. Ask when the barking occurs, record your dog while you are away, and speak to your veterinarian and a qualified behaviour professional who uses reward-based methods. Barking when left alone may be a sign of separation-related distress. Keep your neighbour informed about the steps you are taking, because progress can take time.
Q: Why is my cat urinating outside the litter tray?
A: A cat urinating outside the litter tray may have a medical problem, be in pain or be struggling with something in their environment. Book a veterinary check first, then look at whether your cat has comfortable access to litter trays, food, water, hiding places and scratching surfaces. A qualified behaviour professional can help if the problem continues after medical causes have been addressed.
Ilse Fourie (CBCC-KA, DipCAB, CertCAB, MA)
Ilse Fourie is a qualified and an internationally credentialed animal behaviour consultant and the founder of No Fret Vet and Pet Care Consulting in South Africa. As a Fear Free Elite Certified Professional, Ilse has dedicated her career to bridging the gap between clinical science and the lives of real pets. Her work focuses on a “whole-animal” approach, integrating stress physiology, gut health, and environmental factors to alleviate fear and anxiety. Whether she’s coaching veterinary teams or helping pet parents at home, Ilse’s mission is simple: to help animals feel safe and to empower their humans with the science-informed tools to keep them that way.