Landlord trusts tenants with pets more

We have a two-bedroom cottage in Sydney that we’ve been renting out since mid 2020 and have had two tenants with pets.
We love dogs. We have four of our own and they are our kids. We wanted to provide others with the same opportunity to have a home where their dogs or pets are welcome and safe.
I believe human children are higher risk than animals in the home with regards to damage being caused. If landlords are so concerned about animals causing damage, put a bond in place to cover this. Dogs are family, pets are family. Their companionship is vital for many people.
Our experience (as a landlord) has been flawless. Both lots of tenants had one dog, both bull breeds that were well-trained and well-behaved. Our real estate agent is also pro-pet so it has been a great experience all around so far.
Most people who have dogs and consider them family are pretty decent human beings. I would trust a dog parent far more than I would trust someone who didn’t like animals.
I think Australia is so backward in the pet-friendly space. Not just with accommodation but also access to beaches in Sydney. I was incredibly disheartened when completing the 2021 Census to find not one question on pet ownership. Dogs are my life and I know many others feel the same.
Having volunteered for 8 years photographing abandoned dogs and cats in Sydney pounds, I’ve seen so many animals surrendered due to their families not able to find suitable accommodation where they could take their animals. This is just so wrong.
It’s time we upped our game with providing more opportunities for pet-friendly rentals and less hoops to jump through.
Advice to landlords to help create positive experiences with pet owner tenants
Ensure your home is pet-friendly by providing secure fencing and gates for peace of mind. Our property is triple gated on one side and double gated on the other, all with lockable gates.
We have timber floorboards and want pets to be able to live inside and be part of the family. We also have a small courtyard garden which is fully secure and provides plenty of garden area to do ‘important business’ by the pet.

Photo by Jo Lyons Photography