A pet owner has said he was asked to pay €75 per month in “pet rent” to keep his two cats in a new rental development in north Dublin.
Roy Ferris viewed an apartment with his partner at the weekend at the Griffith Wood development on Griffith Avenue in Marino and was told he would have to pay €75 to keep his cats Iris and Isaac there per month. This fee was in addition to rents which start at €2,250 per month and parking fees of €100.
The issue was initially raised on RTÉ Radio 1's Liveline programme on Monday. "Myself and my partner were thinking of moving homes and within this new development there was a two-bedroom apartment," Mr Ferris told The Irish Times.
“I registered my interest and a lady got back to me and said ‘we’re having viewings, would you like to come along?’ and I said yes and she said ‘do you have any pets?’ and I said yes I have two cats but nothing was mentioned. The advertisement had said it was pet friendly.
He said there was a pet bed for a dog or cat in the apartment and when his partner asked about keeping them she was told they would have to pay a fee.
Mr Ferris said he has been renting for the last 10 years in Ireland and had never heard of "pet rent".
“They called it pet rent,”he said. Mr Ferris said he was “ a bit knocked back” and would not have bothered viewing if he had known about the pet rent.
Greystar, the real estate developer which purchased more than 300 homes on the Griffith Wood scheme said: "While many rental properties do not allow pets or limit them to certain sections, Greystar is pet friendly and allow residents to keep their animals in their homes. Monthly fees or deposits are the norm for modern developments which permit pets and we charge a monthly fee for pets such as cats or dogs which roam freely in apartments."
“The total monthly fee of €75, which is for one or more pets, is to cover soiling and additional wear and tear caused by the pets. There is no fee for pets which remain contained such as gerbils, hamsters, birds etc.”
The Labour Party has called for a blanket ban on pet rent. Labour Senator and housing spokeswoman Rebecca Moynihan said the practice must be stamped out.
“Pets play a huge role in many people’s lives. They provide companionship and emotional support, enhancing overall wellbeing. With a greater percentage of people renting now than ever before, we have to explore ways that allow responsible owners have their pets and companions in their rented homes.
“Charging ‘pet rent’ is yet another example of the power imbalance in the rental market between renters and landlords.”
*This article was amended on October 18th 2021
