Do you have pets?
Well, you might want to take note of these suburbs that have the highest "no pet policy" ratings, as revealed by a new study.
According to this recent study by Suburbtrends, certain suburbs in Australia are particularly challenging for renters with pets to secure rental properties.
The study examined rental listings across the country over the past three months and specifically searched for phrases like "no-pets" or "no-pets-allowed."
To ensure statistical significance and relevance to local renters, suburbs with less than 25 listings during the study period were excluded.
Based on the percentage of rental listings that prohibit pets, the study ranked the most difficult suburbs for renters with pets.
The rankings also factored in rental vacancy rates and the percentage of rent increases in the past year.
Suburbtrends founder, Kent Lardner, stated:
"The study highlights the difficulties of renting with pets in Australia, particularly in states such as South Australia, Western Australia, and Tasmania, where the total percentage of rentals advertised as "no-pets" or "no-pets-allowed" was the highest".
Mr Lardner also introduced the "Sad Puppy Score," which measures the severity of the situation for renters with pets by examining vacancy rates, rent increases, and the percentage of rental listings that prohibit pets.
He further explained:
"The most difficult suburbs for renters with pets are those that receive the worst Sad Puppy Score, indicating a rent increase of 5% or more, vacancy rates below 1.5%, and over 30% of rental listings prohibiting pets."
Overall, the change to rental laws in Victoria has been seen as a positive step towards improving the rights of renters and ensuring that pet owners are not unfairly discriminated against when looking for rental accommodation.
Mr Lardner commented:
"Many suburbs in South Australia have vacancy rates of less than 1%, rents increasing at 10% or more, and more than 50% of advertised rentals prohibiting pets.
Thus, many South Australian renters with pets may envy those residing in Victoria, the only state where renters with pets are not severely affected.
The rankings reveal the alarming difficulties renters with pets face across Australia, with many likely to be forced out into more pet- friendly areas."