Pet owners to pay more

Pet owners who rent their home will be expected to pay an increased pet bond of $260 under changes to the Residential Tenancies Act from June 1.

A review conducted by the Real Estate Institute of Western Australia found the existing bond of $100 was not enough to cover the cost of fumigating the carpet for fleas when they vacated the property.

Any other additional repairs of damage caused by the animal during the time of lease will be deducted from the tenants’ bond.

REIWA Bunbury branch chairwoman Roslyn Ierace said even with increased tenant bonds many investment property owners would still not allow pets.

‘‘We wanted to increase the pet bond as $100 covers hardly anything,’’ she said.

Mrs Ierace said Bunbury petfriendly rental properties were rare.

‘‘At the moment for rental properties we are out-doing the trend,’’she said.

‘‘Unfortunately very few of those properties allow pets which makes it very difficult for renters to keep their pets.’’

Lack of accommodation is one of the main reasons animal welfare groups are getting daily calls from people needing to give up their pets.

Mrs Ierace said property owners needed to have an open mind and reconsider allowing pets.

‘‘It’s hard to find rental properties that allow pets in Bunbury,’’she said.

‘‘What happens with property owners is that out of every 10 pet rentals they take on, one pet will be a problem.

‘‘This one experience causes the owner to reconsider allowing pets.’’

REIWA communications director Brian Greig said landowners needed to cut pet tenants some slack.

‘‘The majority of pet owners are responsible,’’ he said.

‘‘In WA many property owners are opposed to pets and it’s not clear why.’’

Mrs Ierace said without some more security, property owners would still be unwilling to allow pets.

‘‘The possibility of damage to the property is one the biggest concerns with pet rentals,’’she said.