The Australian rental market has a problem: it’s treating pet owners like second-class citizens. With just 15.91 per cent of advertised properties allowing pets, the situation is dire, especially in major cities like Sydney.

What is the pet rental crisis?

The pet rental crisis is a perfect storm of low vacancies, high competition, and a widespread bias against animal lovers. New data released by Budget Pet Products this month backs up what many pet owners have learned the hard way: finding a pet-friendly rental is tough, and it often comes with a higher price tag.

• Just 15.91 per cent of advertised properties allow pets.
• Pets-friendly homes cost up to 25 per cent more in cities like Sydney, adding nearly $270 extra per week to the rent.
• Pets are often treated like property damage risks, rather than as part of the family.

According to Budget Pet Products Director Karla VanDepol, the situation is not just about the cost: it’s about the added burden of the “property pet tax”. Renters with pets are now paying noticeably higher rent, on top of the usual costs like food and vet bills.

“We believe everyone should be able to enjoy the companionship of a pet without facing extra financial stress,”

says VanDepol. “Beyond the usual costs like food and vet bills, many renters are now dealing with what we call the ‘property pet tax’, paying noticeably higher rent just to keep their pets.”

This added burden makes it tough for pet owners, especially in cities like Sydney, to hold onto their beloved animals. Some renters are even offering extra money just to get landlords to accept their pets – fuelling a disturbing trend dubbed “pet-bidding.”

The impact on renters

The situation has become so dire that many renters are being pushed out of the rental market altogether. They’re forced to rehome their pets or give up on their dream of owning a home.

Rehoming pets

For many pet owners, rehoming their pets is not an option. They’re not trying to rent with gremlins or a pack of untrained hounds. These are sleepy, gentle giants who prefer napping on the couch to tearing through fences. We learned this the hard way when we were rejected by landlords time and time again. Eventually, we were backed into a corner. We could rehome our dogs, or get out of the rental market altogether.

Buying a home instead

In the end, we decided to buy a home. Not because we were ready – far from it. We’d only visited Adelaide once, and for only three days at that. We weren’t fussy. We applied for properties all over the city – inner, outer, regional, you name it. If the listing said “pets considered,” we hit apply faster than you can say “good boy.”

But like thousands of Australians now, we found ourselves up against what’s being called the “pet rental crisis”. We were forced to spend weeks in a caravan and couch-surfed with two dog beds in tow until settlement was reached.

The benefits of buying a home

It was chaotic, expensive, and not at all how we imagined starting a new chapter. But what many aren’t aware of is that we spent weeks in a caravan and couch-surfed with two dog beds in tow until settlement was reached. It was tough, but worth it because – when our broker walked us through the numbers, we realised something incredible: our mortgage repayments weren’t much more than what we were prepared to pay in rent. In other words, being rejected by landlords helped us build wealth – because the rent we couldn’t spend became the mortgage we could manage.

Consistent, national rental laws

The pet rental crisis isn’t just about pets. It’s about power. Landlords still hold all the cards, and pet owners are left at the bottom of the application pile – even though more than 60 per cent of Aussie households have pets. That has to change. We need consistent, national rental laws that stop treating pets as property damage risks and start recognising them as family. Because that’s exactly what they are – especially in our case.

Our home, a forever home

My husband, a veteran with PTSD, relied on Arthur and Guin not just for company, but for emotional support and mental health. For him, giving them up would have meant giving up part of his recovery. They’ve both since passed, but the home we bought for them is still their legacy. It’s now ruled by our three-year-old dog Agnes and regularly welcomes her furry friends for sleepovers. A sign at the door reads: “Dogs welcome. People by request.” And we mean it. Our house might still be the most expensive kennel in the country – but it was the best decision we never meant to make. Because in the middle of a rental system that’s failing so many Australians, it gave us what every pet owner deserves: safety, freedom, and a forever home.