Finding a Pet-Friendly Property
As a pet owner, it's crucial to find a property that not only meets your own needs but also provides a comfortable and safe environment for your furry companion.
14/07/2025
Searching for a new home is an
exhilarating experience, especially when you
have a beloved pet to consider. As a pet owner,
it's crucial to find a property that not only
meets your own needs but also provides a
comfortable and safe environment for your furry
companion.
“There are so many things to
consider when you’re buying a home. Families may
want a spacious property close to amenities like
schools and shops, whereas a young professional
buying a first home may be looking for a
lock-up-and-go in a vibrant area,” says Bradd
Bendall, BetterBond's National Head of Sales.
“If you own pets, it makes sense to take their
needs into account, as it can impact on your
quality of life down the line. Think about how
much space your dogs require if they’re very
active, or if a home on a busy road will be a
suitable one for cats who like to wander.”
Below, Bendall looks at essential points to
consider when looking for a pet-friendly
property, to ensure that both you and your
four-legged friends will feel right at home.
Safety inside and out
Finding a
pet-friendly property involves more than just
the right layout and amenities for yourself,
says Bendall; it also means creating a
comfortable and safe haven for your furry
companion. Safety inside a home includes having
enough room for pets to move around in, and no
dangerous elements like exposed wires or
staircases without balustrades.
Next,
take a walk around a potential home’s property
and check that the walls are high enough, or
fences are secure enough to contain your pets.
“High walls are valued as a security feature
against criminals, but they’re a great safety
measure if you have pets. The last thing you
want is for pets to get out of a property and
encounter hazards outside. Well-constructed
walls provide peace of mind and prevent any
unwanted adventures,” he advises. For extra peace of mind when it comes to keeping your pets safe outdoors, you might also consider using tools like the
Pawtronic GPS Dog Fence, which can help create secure boundaries without the need for physical barriers.
Bendall
also points out that, according to the South
African Bureau of Standards (SABS), any private
swimming pool with a maximum depth of 30cm must
be surrounded by a childproof fence. While this
is for the safety of family members and guests,
it helps with pets, too. Not all dog and cat
breeds are natural swimmers and if they struggle
to get out of a pool they’ve fallen into, they
could easily drown.
Temperature control
“If you’re working remotely, or there’s someone
home during the day, you can open or close doors
and windows to regulate the temperature and
offer pets protection on hot, cold or rainy
days,” says Bendall. “But if you spend most of
the day at work and your pets are kept indoors,
efficient heating and cooling systems can help
to keep them comfortable.”
Temperature
control can be particularly important for breeds
sensitive to extreme heat, or in parts of South
Africa that get extremely warm. Good lighting
and ventilation also help to improve your pet’s
well-being, so prioritise homes with natural
light and good ventilation to circulate air and
eliminate odours.
Durable flooring
Pets can be hard on floors, so it's essential to
choose pet-friendly flooring options that can
withstand their playful antics. Wall-to-wall
carpets and delicate hardwood floors might look
appealing, but they’re not the best options for
pet owners, advises Bendall. “Wooden floors are
prone to damage, and carpets stain easily and
trap pet hair and odours. Damaged floors don’t
look good and, in the long-term, aren’t great
for resale value.”
Instead, says
Bendall, look for homes with durable and
easy-to-clean flooring materials like tile,
laminate or vinyl, which are resistant to
scratches, stains and moisture, and can be
wiped, swept and cleaned quickly. Tiles also
offer a cool place for pets to stretch out on
warm summer days. If there are areas where you’d
like something softer underfoot, you can put
down a throw rug, which can easily be shaken out
and cleaned.
Useful amenities
When
browsing for a pet-friendly property, look for
any features that will make living with pets
easier for you. “These may not have been
designed specifically with pets in mind, but
that pet parents will value for their
usefulness,” says Bendall. “Such features
include sufficient storage space inside the
home, which will prove handy for storing items
such as food, toys, grooming supplies, blankets
and leads so that they don’t clutter your home.”
An all-in-one cabinet will prove
invaluable for neatly organising pet-related
things, like a shower caddy filled with their
medicines and grooming supplies, baskets stashed
with blankets and toys, and hooks on the cabinet
walls for leads and collars. Another handy
feature is if the kitchen has a pull-out bin
tucked under a counter. If you prefer a
standalone rubbish bin you could turn the
existing pull-out bin into a pellet storage
area. Just pop a clean container in with a
sealed lid in to keep pellets fresh.
Finally, if your dogs love getting muddy on
walks, a dedicated washing area outside in the
garden can double up as a pet-washing station,
making it easier to wash dogs down.
Is the neighbourhood pet-friendly?
It's
essential to assess the overall pet-friendliness
of the neighbourhood. Look for signs of a
vibrant pet community, such as pet supply
stores, pet-friendly restaurants, groomers, and
dog parks. Friendly neighbours who are also pet
owners can create a welcoming environment for
both you and your furry companions, fostering a
sense of belonging and support.
If your
pets are an integral part of your family’s life,
then making sure a new home will be ideal for
them can go a long way in ensuring everyone’s
happiness for years to come.