With pet owners representing
a significant portion of the population, furry, four-legged friends are
factoring heavily into the decision to buy a condo in Malaysia. With increasing in number of households enjoy the companionship of a pet,
there’s a high level of demand for pet-friendly housing, including strata
properties.
Some condos house-rules have used strong
words, for example:
VISTA KOMANWEL CONDOMINIUM HOUSE RULES &
REGULATIONS
1.2.4 Household Pets and Livestock
(a) No rearing of pets, livestock and other
animals including poultry, birds etc are allowed both within the Condominium
Units or kept in any part on the Building or perimeter of the Common Property.
(b) The Management reserves the right to
remove any such pets found within the Building at the pet or livestock
Owner's/Resident’s expenses.
There are also some condos house-rules with
more vague wordings, which often suggested “calm and good pets are okay”.
11.6 No Owner/Resident may keep any animals
which may cause annoyance to other residents. The Management, at its
discretion, reserves the right to remove such animals within the Complex at the
Owner's expense.
Pets are good for us
Petcare Information and
Advisory Service Australia Pty Ltd (PIAS)
found that pet owners enjoy better mental health, lower blood pressure, and
higher satisfaction with home life. Communities where people walk their dogs
have a lower incidence of violent crime and a higher perception of
neighbourhood friendliness.
Pet-friendly strata properties attract more
people and have lower turnover rates and higher profitability. And communities
that work together, talk regularly and create more opportunities to socialise
are much healthier communities.
We understand there are some properties that
simply do not want pets in the building and this is, of course, fine.
Check that rulebook
Before you bring in your animal friends it’s
very important to check the property by-laws or rules. And don’t think that
just because Fido is cute and doesn’t bark (much, ever) that everyone will turn
a blind eye and allow him to stay.
If the strata scheme by-laws or rules clearly
says no pets, then that’s what it means. Breaching this could mean a fine for
you and a new home for Fido.
The pet application forms are not meant to
change people’s minds or their by-laws or rules. They’re meant as a way of
helping those apartments, which may welcome pets or may be considering allowing
pets, to assess the situation and of course to encourage owners to seek
permission from their building’s governing body in the first instance.
The forms are a way of helping people living
in strata to be responsible pet owners, while at the same time encouraging more
pet-friendly apartments.
Be a smart owner
The key is for pet owners to be able to
demonstrate they’re responsible, and for some strata schemes to re-consider
whether their pets policy meets the changing needs of modern lifestyles.
It may be that residents’ wants have actually
changed since the building was first built, and this should be considered.
Owners must also be conscious of the history
of a building too. New owners should never expect for it to be a matter of
submitting an application and having it accepted. Some people have specifically
chosen buildings based on no pet policies, and these opinions might not change
overnight, no matter how responsible the new pet owners are.
The key is
for pet owners to be able to demonstrate they’re responsible.
