With more and more people now renting it appears that these rules are becoming less common so it may be worth your while negotiating the tenancy agreement to allow for a small pet to be kept on the property.
It is easy to understand though why landlords may not be keen for you to keep a pet in their property, whether or not it will be your home for a short lease or for many years.
The main reason is that there is more chance of damage within the property especially if it is fully furnished. This damage to property or furniture will ultimately have a detrimental effect on future rental of the property and is likely to cost the landlord money in the long run.
This particular blog post looks at renting with cats. Cats are one of the most commonly requested pets to be allowed in a rented property, as well as being one that landlords are more likely to agree to.
Is there anything that you can do to boost your chances of having your kitty accepted?
The answer is yes, but you would need to remember that it is still down to the discretion of the landlord so always make sure you check the pet allowances in the tenancy agreement prior to signing that tenancy agreement.
When negotiating with the landlord, the age of the cat can have a big influence; older cats are less likely to cause damage to the property or furniture and are generally toilet trained meaning that there is less chance of any unpleasant stains and marks being left on the lovely beige carpet.
Cats that spend a majority of their time outside can also be more readily agreed to. After all, the more time that is spend outside of the home then less chance there is of anything untoward happening on the inside.
Offering to pay a higher rate of deposit can also be a tempting carrot to dangle in front of your landlord; this can either come in the form of paying upfront, or writing an additional clause into the tenancy agreement to confirm that you will pay for a full, deep clean of the property (such as carpets and pest control treatments) when you are ending your contract. This would prove to the landlord that you are well aware of your tenant responsibilities and be a sign of good will.
Ultimately, if you are looking to have a pet in your rental property then the key is to ensure that the idea of it is really sold to your landlord. This may be easier said than done if they are not a pet lover themselves. But by convincing them that the maintenance of their property is still paramount in your mind you may be more likely to have the nod that you are hoping for!
It Doesn’t Fit Your Windows
If you rented out a house or an apartment with pre-installed blinds, it’s a reduced cost on your end. However, if your window has a unique size, your pre-installed blinds might not be the perfect fit for your room.
When your blinds are too massive or small for your home, it can make the room smaller and awkward. Ideally, you should have custom-fit blinds like the Perfect Fit Blinds, as they’ll be able to fit perfectly to your unique window sizes, providing you with everything that you need.
You Always See Your Neighbours
Do you remember how many times you’ve walked through your home, looked out the window and seen your neighbour doing something that should be kept private? It can be an awkward and uncomfortable scenario, especially if the scene calls for it. When you frequently experience this, it’s time to buy new blinds.
To help eliminate uncomfortable moments in your home, you should go for top-down/bottom-up blinds. These help to provide your family with natural light without extending your view.
Top-down/bottom-up shades use a reverse mechanism that brings down the shades from top to bottom rather than the usual bottom to top. In this way, you’ll be able to let natural light come into the room from above, leaving the bottom part secured and safe from your eyesight.
Your Neighbours Always See You
Turning the page over; how many times has your neighbour seen you up to something that you’d have preferred to keep secret? If you frequently spot your neighbours looking into your home, you should consider changing your blinds. Not only does it save you from embarrassing moments, but it also helps you to protect your home and family from prying eyes.
Your Children Wake You Up First Thing in the Morning
The term “first thing in the morning” usually means by the time you’ve arrived at work. However, it can be quite different with kids around.
When the sun rises and shines into your kid’s rooms, even if it’s way before their wake-up time, they could easily run straight into your rooms and wake you up; they want breakfast and conversation. While that can be fun, it can also be frustrating, especially if it’s at the crack of dawn.
To help your children to stay asleep for longer hours, you should consider getting your kids blackout blinds so that no light can get through their windows until you want it to. This should keep your kids asleep for as long as possible.
Your Energy Bill Beats Your Rent
Paying rent can be expensive, especially when you have to spend a lot on other things in your homes such as energy, water and your internet bill, as well as your weekly groceries. You may not notice it, but your blinds contribute to how you spend your energy at home.
During the summer season, the afternoons get extra hot, and you need to boost your AC to its maximum capacity to feel comfortable and relaxed. However, it can’t trap the temperature with the wrong blinds. This will make your ACs work extra hard just to cool you down, elevating your electricity bills.
You could go for high-quality blinds that have excellent insulating properties, as these help to maintain either a cool or warm temperature inside the room, depending on which season it is.
Your Blinds Are Broken
One of the most obvious reasons why you might want to change your blinds is because they’re broken. It could be that your pre-installed blinds have been sitting on the window for decades, or that your pet has broken them by pushing their head between the slats of the blinds to see what’s happening outside, or that your children are playing with the control cord causing the mechanism to stick.
Out of Style
If you’ve just moved in and the pre-installed blinds are out of style or your preference, you should change them.
Changing your blinds into something better-looking and updated will allow your room a fresher feel, making your stay at the place a lot homier.
Doesn’t Match Your Needs
If your current blinds don’t fit your needs anymore, you should consider changing them.
You can update your blinds if you want a blackout experience, proper insulation, increased security or even just for style preference. Just make sure that when choosing your new blinds, you get the perfect fit to give a great look to your window.
Conclusion
There are many factors as to why a tenant would want to change their blinds, but before purchasing a new one, you should check with your lease contract to see if it’s allowed or whether there’s a particular process to follow for repair or replacement. If there is, contact your landlord immediately to get the job done quickly.
Above all, make sure that you purchase the perfect fit, style and purpose according to your preference; good blinds will last you for years after replacement, so make sure that you really like them.
