Friends have arrived from abroad and are living in rented accomodation, they had to leave their dogs behind but plan to bring them here at the end of summer when the contract on their current accomodation ends. But...they are finding it hard to find anywhere that takes dogs. Any tips on where to look or how to go about it? My only idea was to turn up at a viewing with dog in tow, then as they are very well trained and groomed immaculately (non shedding breed), hope that whoever is showing them around, will agree once they see the dog, but a bit risky I admit.
Any ideas gratefully recieved.

Do they want somewhere in the country. if so try local estates, they are generally more tolerant.
Or get them to offer to pay extra deposit for the dog and get the carpets professionally cleaned when leave.
Lea :)

Some more tips and information from the Dogs Trust here:
http://www.letswithpets.org.uk/petowners/

I have rented my spare room a couple of times, gumtree has various seach facilities and gets a lot of private lets, also there is a site called spareroom which again will look for pets accepted.  Try local letting agents as well

Literally I signed up with all agencies in the areas I wanted a home and told them I had dogs. Villages and more rural areas generally I found more open to allowing dogs.

I found it hard to find something which I was looking for and which suited my dogs, enclosed garden with direct access from the house seemed to be my major issue at times. Wanted a quiet location and with double glazing!!

It did take me a few months this time and be prepared to offer a higher deposit and say your dogs don't bark(make sure they don't, lol), offer to allow agents/landlords to meet them first etc..

I usually say my dog is a competition obedience dog and have had no trouble at all.  Also I offer to pay a large deposit.  Point out children can usually do more damage than dogs.  I wouldn't take your dog along so they can see, it might not behave well, they might not like dogs etc. - maybe take a picture?  Tell them to explain that the dog is basically their child and they will guarantee its behaviour.  

Thanks for all these tips :-)
Hopefully they will find somewhere suitable by offering a larger deposit etc.
The dogs are trained to a high standard and behave impeccably, they are used in their work in schools and with the disabled and appear at public demonstrations often, so wouldn't be a problem letting them be seen. Good point about children may cause more damage than dogs, never thought of that!

>Good point about children may cause more damage than dogs, never thought of that!

Interesting point!  I had been looking for holiday accommodation that allowed dogs, but most allowed tiny dogs.  The Torquay Tourist board found me a lovely bungalow where I was allowed to take 4 dogs, two of them Collies.

The agency told me that they allowed animals but not children, and one couple regularly took their parrots with them.

When I met the owner, I asked why no children.  I was told that it's because people keep their kids under the beds!  I asked what he meant, and was told that was where all the sticky sweets seemed to be ground into his carpets!

its true!good luck,my daughter had this problem, every private let said"no dogs",apparently council properties around here allow dogs,she finally found a new housing association house,so very lucky.I wish your friends well.

With all the 'work' the dogs do do ask people that know them (school personnel, training school instructors) to write CV's and references for them so you can create a little pack to give letting agents/landlords so they can prove that they are well behaved dogs.

Also it it worth ensuring that the letting agents knows early on - I have a rental that I would be prepared to let to responsible pet owners (currently let) and when the letting agent asked about allowing animals and heard my response he said they would put no on the details to put off the more irresponsible owners.  They work on the theory that responsible owners will inform the letting agent early in the search so they can then ask if I would consider the tennant and the animal involved.  It's also the default selection for particulars if the landlord hasn't mentioned.  So it's always worth speaking to letting agents and asking if they would speak to the landlords to see if they will consider allowing the dogs, especially if your friends are prepared to pay a bigger deposit.

If you can, get your friends to ask previous neighbours for written references too, I found that helped no end when we first arrived in Oz and had to rent.

Interesting topic. We're currently on the market and plan to go into rented after we've sold as our forward move is going to be a business. I've got 3 Golden Retrievers and am just a little worried we'll find it difficult to find a house/flat to rent even for a short time.

I'm thinking that my estate agents could testify to how my dogs are kept, how we take care of the house and grounds and would therefore look after a rental property.

Good luck its very hard. My current landlord thinks I have 2 dogs ;-) I do have 2 dogs though so I'm not lying. The others are just here on a sleepover

Stick with it, we are out there :)  Unfortunately my spare room is taken now but I would have taken someone with dogs.  So don't lose heart :)

I found when I was ringing around that a lot of people said no before even finding out what type of pet I had. Telling people i had two well trained showdogs who didn't shed (true) really changed their minds! In the end we got lucky and have two fab landlords who love dogs...that being said, we did have to choose a house which was less modern and fabulously decorated than we perhaps would have but as we have all our own furniture and like to decoate and like antique features it worked out well for us, but if we hadn't have.... it would've been tough. :( I had also been willing to offer a deposit to cover any damage the dogs did so another good option to throw in the mix.

I would say as well to place an advert in the properties wanted section. A lot of landlords read those and I have found 2 really nice houses that way...and by asking for a dog friendly property anyone answering the advert is already aware.

Cheers
J

Whereabouts are your friends looking, loobyloo2?