Creating better tomorrows for all pet rabbits

Home Sweet Home. Renting with your rabbit

We know it can be hard to find pet-friendly rental accommodation.

Guest post by Elaine Line

We frequently hear of people having to give up their much-loved pets when moving into rented property. This is very distressing for owners and can also place huge burdens on animal rescues who very often have to try and accommodate space for pets when owners are faced with landlord ultimatums and time constraints for rehoming their pets or the real possibility of having to give up their rental home.

The good news is things are gradually improving, and one of the big reasons for this is the introduction of Pet CVs.

A Pet CV can be a great help in providing Landlords with added information and the reassurance they need that you and your rabbits will make great tenants.

The RWAF has put together a brief thoughts list of areas for you to consider together with an online Pet CV Builder, which can either be completed online and exported to PDF or a download version which can be printed and completed manually.

Renting With Rabbits – A Landlord’s View

Renting property is a risky business.

Landlords rent property to complete strangers, and there is no doubt that in some instances, landlords have been left with out-of-pocket expenses as a result of tenants leaving property with serious pet damage.

Landlords also have to adhere strictly to government legislation in regard to rental deposits, which can result in very nervous landlords in terms of being able to ensure costs can be recovered for pet damage to property.

However, many landlords are coming around to the idea that not all pets are equal when it comes to potential property damage.

Many landlords are becoming more open to the idea that a well-presented Pet CV can illustrate evidence of a responsible pet owner and reassurance that your pet rabbit is supervised and well behaved.

Considerations Indoor v Outdoor Rabbits

We have detailed below some thought-provoking ideas which can be areas of concern for landlords – it’s a great idea to give planning time to these areas and think about how you can incorporate solutions and ease your landlord’s concerns. We have detailed a few typical scenarios which may arise together with some possible solution ideas as follows:

Outdoor Rabbits

Landlord Concern: Rabbit will dig, resulting in an unsightly lawn
Reassurance: The rabbit’s graze area will be rotated and supervised. Have a dedicated grazing area with under-grass mesh. The rabbit will be housed in the concrete area with a grazing box.

Landlord Concern: Rabbit husbandry
Reassurance: Responsible welfare standards will be followed to ensure rabbits are kept in a clean environment.

Landlord Concern: Waste & soiled bedding removal
Reassurance: Give Assurances that all waste will be regularly removed and will not build up. The rabbit area will be kept tidy so as not to attract vermin.

(Check local refuse collection regulations to ensure the council’s Environment Department doesn’t have restrictions, and if they have, what arrangements need to be made.)

Indoor rabbits

Landlord Concern: Rabbit will chew timber skirtings and electric cables, strip wallpaper
Reassurance: Rabbit will have restricted supervised play. Timber skirtings, cables and wallpaper will be protected wherever possible.

Landlord Concern: Rabbit hair will transmit to carpets and furniture.
Reassurance: Reassure a quality vacuum is regularly used. Rabbit is regularly groomed outdoors to prevent build up. Consider professional carpet cleaning on leaving the property and/or an additional deposit to cover the carpet cleaning.

Home Search Under Way?

Plan ahead and give yourself the time you need to research pet-friendly landlords. If possible, build in some flexibility regarding your property type and the area in which you want to live.

Try and adopt a calm and friendly can-do attitude with your landlord and try not to get frustrated if they decline. It is, after all, their decision, but hopefully, a well-thought-out approach may help you and your landlord work together to look at solutions to initial concerns.

Pet References

A reference from your previous landlord can provide reassurance of your rabbit’s good behaviour and ease of maintenance. Include photographs of your rabbit and accommodation. Your vet may be able to provide an additional reference regarding your rabbit’s general health in that your pet is free from fleas and undergoes regular health checks. Any additional pet references can, of course, be included with your CV or separately.

Landlord Negotiations?

Landlords will understandably have concerns regarding damage caused by rabbits kept as pets both indoors and outdoors. Particularly for indoor rabbits, flea infestations and rabbit dander and coat accumulations leading to dirty carpets and possible future tenant allergies will also be a worry for landlords.

Try negotiating a mutually agreeable increased deposit to cover the cost of any damage and offer to pay for a professional house clean when you move out. You may need to consider that some landlords may ask for a non-refundable upfront deposit to cover house cleaning.

If you are unable to keep your rabbit…

Always plan and allow yourself plenty of time to plan for the rehoming of your pet.

You will want to do the very best you can to ensure your rabbit’s future welfare. Try and give rescue centres as much notice as possible as most rescues will have a waiting list for rabbits awaiting rehoming.

If you are already in rented accommodation try negotiating with your landlord and show evidence that you are actively seeking to rehome your pet. By doing this, your landlord may show empathy and allow you sufficient time to ensure you find your rabbit a suitable home or rescue space.

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Join us today!

Love rabbits? You will love our Rabbiting On magazine.

Subscribe to Rabbiting On and join us to be part of something bigger that’s making a difference nationwide.

Subscribe to RabbitingOn

Love rabbits? You will love our Rabbiting On magazine.

Subscribe to Rabbiting On and join us to be part of something bigger that’s making a difference nationwide.

Subscribe to RabbitingOn

Love rabbits? You will love our Rabbiting On magazine.

Subscribe to Rabbiting On and join us to be part of something bigger that’s making a difference nationwide.

Subscribe to RabbitingOn
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