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Having a pet does not always depend on you. Perhaps where you live they are not allowed. To be completely sure whether or not you can have a dog in a rented flat, you should check the contract; you could even try to negotiate it with the property owners. This will lead you to ask yourself a series of questions: Do I have to pay for the damage my dog causes? Can I reach an agreement with the landlord?
Is it legal to ban pets?
For many people, finding a rental flat that allows their pet is a real ordeal. However, the law does not prohibit homeowners from refusing the entry of animals. That said, only if the signed contract contains a clause that clearly specifies it. If you are in a rented flat and want to have a dog in it, you should review your contract first. If this document does not specify a ban on the pet, you can have one. So it is in the hands of the owners whether or not they want to allow animals in their flat, but they cannot forbid you from having one if this has not been made explicit in the rental contract.
Keys to having your dog in a rented flat
Even if having a pet is allowed, the contract may have specified that the tenant must pay for any damage. In this case, the best thing is to keep up to date with the options you have to cover these costs. Having health and wellbeing insurance for your pet is essential so that it grows up healthy and you do not have to worry about veterinary expenses, those arising from searching for it if it gets lost, and others. As for the antics your little furry companion may get up to – such as eating the sofa foam, trying to dig through the textured wall paint or trying to hunt the curtains – the owners will have to bear the damage from normal use of the home even when these are caused by the dog. This is because the owner is always responsible for the damage their dog causes, and even if you have civil liability insurance or this coverage is included in your home insurance, what it covers is damage to third parties and not your own damage.
Neither the landlord nor the residents’ association can ban a pet per se. In fact, in the event of conflict, the tenant’s right to have a dog always prevails. To guarantee this right, your dog must always be in a legal situation. This means that:
- You must keep its vaccinations up to date.
- You must comply with the association’s rules: it is the obligation of the tenant who has the dog to ensure it does not cause damage in common areas, does not relieve itself inside the building, and so on.
- The dog must have a chip and be registered.
To find out whether you can have your best friend with you at home, even in a rented flat, you should know your rights and duties well. As long as the contract does not stipulate otherwise, you can have pets, but you must take care of them at all times.
