Pets in Apartments... help

We had a cat in an apartment in Reid for a few years, and the body corporate never found out. It helped that we owned the apartment, but we rented it for a year beforehand and had to smuggle the cat (and cat paraphernalia) out during the estate agent’s inspections. If you’re renting, don’t forget that the agent cannot just enter the property to inspect it – they must have your agreement to the time and date.

The apartments behind the Canberra Hospital definitely allow pets, provided they cause no unreasonable disturbance to neighbours, or damage to common property. Renting an apartment there (like all tenancy arrangements) is a different situation however as the lessor must approve it in the first instance.

Closer to the city are The Sanctuary townhouses, of which I believe there is currently one for sale and one for rent. Applications to keep pets in the complex are made to the managing agent and Executive Committee (elected body of owners), and neighbors within 50-100m (lower limit for cats, higher limit for dogs) are allowed to lodge objections within 30 days. All objections are discussed and negotiated with the majority of applications being approved.

Personally I applied to have two indoor cats in my townhouse at The Sanctuary and as there were no objections my application was approved. Most residents prefer not to have cats roaming the complex, so getting approval for an indoor cat there would likely be a cinch!

Hypothetically, if you’re buying an apartment, and its yours, you still must declare to B.C. that you intend to have a pet?

From the Unit Titles Act:

“Animals—owners corporation’s consent
(1) A unit owner may keep an animal, or allow an animal to be kept,
within the unit or the common property only with the consent of the
owners corporation.
(2) The owners corporation may give consent under this section with or
without conditions.
(3) However, the owners corporation’s consent must not be
unreasonably withheld.”

And from the explanatory notes accompanying the amendment when this clause was introduced:

“Section 51A Animals – owners corporation’s consent
The provision provides that an owners corporation must not unreasonably withhold consent for the keeping of an animal by the unit owner or occupier. An owners corporation can impose conditions on the consent.

The provision was previously provided for in the default articles in the Unit Titles regulations however the provisions have been moved into the Act to ensure the rights of a unit owner, to keep animals or allow animals to be kept in a unit, are protected. The Unit Titles regulation provided that an owners corporation could amend its articles to preclude any right of any unit owner to keep an animal.

The unit owner can apply to the ACAT if a dispute arises about the keeping of an animal.”

While many complexes may claim that they dont allow pets, I dont see how they can get around the legislation in regard to a small, (presumably) quiet, indoor pet, when the relevant law was specifically introduced in order to allow them.

The building across the road from the ABC (Valonia) officially allows pets. People in the area know it as the “pets” building since most of Braddon is pet-free.

But I know people who have pets in “no pets” apartments. The loudest cat I know lives in a “no pets” complex and people must surely be aware of her… but as Sammy said, it’s the disturbance that’s the problem, nobody is hurt by just being aware of the animal’s existence. I know some humans are precious and love a fight but generally human nature is pretty reasonable and it makes sense that they wouldn’t bother.

You might also find that a body corporate is going to understand that this is a special situation and make an exception. How many people are planning on bringing a kitty from overseas to their building? Not many.

Having served on a number of apartment building body-corporate committees, I can tell you that each of these properties had a “no pets” policy (by default). However, the committee was always of the opinion that if the pet was causing no disturbance, then no further action would be taken. The policy of “no pets” was more of an insurance policy so that action could easily be taken against a resident who had a rambunctious/annoying pet.

So, as others have pointed out, the only option is probably to just take the risk and hope nobody cares. Also remember that you’ll probably experience an anti-cat member on the committee, and they might try and make waves, but without the support of the entire committee they’ll get nowhere (personal experience).

Oh, the OP is buying, not renting. Please ignore me.

I think the rental market in Canberra is not that tight that I have to avoid declaring my pets. I don’t think it is fair to the home owner to not declare them. Just my opinion.

In my previous statement, I meant owner occupiers had pets, not that the pet was an owner occupier.

Moose said :

Our apartments in Garran have cats living in them. I’m not too sure if it’s allowed, but 2 of our neighbour’s downstairs have a lovely little kitten. There’s also a few with very lovely dogs as well. And one of the townhouses at No. 17 Eldridge is currently up for rent. I know there are a few around there with some small-medium-large size dogs and cats in them.

We’re in the new one’s next to the hospital.

I’ve viewed those a few times. The usual agent response is body corporate doesn’t allow it. So as a prospective renter, it is quite a commitment, to attend a viewing, and make an application with that uncertainty (or should I say certainty). I have seen pets in there, but I assumed they were owner occupiers.

I could be mistaken: the agents could have meant just not in the apartments above the ground floor.

Otherwise, they are nice apartments.

If she doesnt go outside and is only an inside cat, I would go with not declaring that you have a cat…if she is quiet and inside, who is to know?

I agree the whole pets in units is a disaster for responsible pet owners of quiet well behaved animals. I had a cat and lived (rented) a number of units around town. He was never home during inspections and did no damage to the units.

Our apartments in Garran have cats living in them. I’m not too sure if it’s allowed, but 2 of our neighbour’s downstairs have a lovely little kitten. There’s also a few with very lovely dogs as well. And one of the townhouses at No. 17 Eldridge is currently up for rent. I know there are a few around there with some small-medium-large size dogs and cats in them.

We’re in the new one’s next to the hospital.