Own a pet? Best to avoid renting in these suburbs

A study by Suburbtrends listed 10 of the worst suburbs across Australia for pet owners.

Australians with furry friends must go an extra mile to ensure that the rental property they are eyeing allows pets.

Queensland and Victoria are the only states that have provisions in their respective rental policies that do not allow landlords to reject pet-owning tenants without providing a reason. Check out this guide to know pet-friendly laws in each Aussie state.

In 2022, 69% of all households have pets according to Animal Medicines Australia, increasing from the record before the pandemic. With a higher proportion of households having pets, it is crucial to know where looking for a pet-friendly rental might be harder.

Each suburb identified in the Suburbtrends report is scored up to five “sad puppy” points — the higher the score, the worse it is for pet owners. The sad puppy points is based on three factors: the share of rentals advertised as “no-pets allowed”, rental price gains of 5% or more, and vacancy rates of 1.5% and lower.

Worst suburbs for pet owners in Australia

Suburbtrends founder Kent Lardner said this list highlights the difficulties of renting with pets in Australia, particularly in South Australia and Western Australia where there is a high share of rentals advertised as “no-pets allowed”.

“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,” he said.

“The rankings reveal the alarming difficulties renters with pets face across Australia, with many likely to be forced out into more pet-friendly areas.”

The Suburbtrends also listed the 10 worst suburbs in the states of New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Western Australia, and Tasmania. The suburbs listed in each state below show the share of rentals that prohibit pet ownership:

New South Wales

• Batemans Bay – 58%
• Lithgow – 50%
• Lambton – 48%
• Ocean Shores – 48%
• Hamilton South – 47%
• Shortland – 46%
• Sawtell – 45%
• Eden – 44%
• Unanderra – 43%
• Bathurst – 43%

Queensland

• Palm Cove – 32%
• Bowen – 22%
• Main Beach – 20%
• Mackay – 20%
• East Mackay – 17%
• Buddina -17%
• Scarness – 17%
• Sippy Downs – 16%
• Springfield – 16%
• Mount Pleasant – 16%

South Australia

• Oaklands Park – 67%
• Nuriootpa – 63%
• Glenelg – 55%
• Newton – 55%
• New Port – 54%
• Semaphore Park – 48%
• Glenside – 48%
• Brooklyn Park – 47%
• Henley Beach – 47%
• Glenelg East – 47%

Western Australia

• Beresford – 65%
• Margaret River – 44%
• Ardross – 41%
• Shoalwater – 41%
• Maylands – 40%
• Joondalup – 40%
• Jindalee – 39%
• Harrisdale – 37%
• Bunbury – 36%
• Noranda – 36%

Tasmania

• Wynyard – 38%
• Devonport – 36%
• Sorell – 33%
• West Moonah – 29%
• Mount Stuart – 27%
• Sandy Bay – 25%
• Claremont – 25%
• Battery Point – 24%
• West Hobart – 24%
• Hobart – 23%

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Photo by Claudio Olivares Medina on Pexels.