Can pets be banned from a rental property?

Can't imagine your life without a furry ball by your side? When choosing an apartment to rent, you wonder if you will be able to live there with a dog, a cat, a goldfish, a rabbit or even a snake. So, can pets be prohibited in a rental? Some light is needed.

Can pets be banned in a rental without a mention in the lease?

In your rental agreement, there is no mention of any prohibition on the presence of animals. In this case, the property owner cannot object to a small companion. As long as the species is not problematic, as long as the number of animals does not pose a problem, you will be able to serenely live with your pet within your accommodation in Switzerland.

Can animals be prohibited in a rental in the rental agreement?

Some leases in Switzerland specify that the possession of animals is subject to the prior agreement of the property owner. Indeed, case law has confirmed that the landlord can prohibit animals in the apartment to be rented without having to justify his choice. If, despite his ban, you live with a pet, he would then be entitled to proceed with the termination of the rental lease.

Can animals be banned in a rental because of complaints from neighbors?

Sometimes, the problem does not come directly from the landlord, but from the neighbors. These may be complaining about noise and/or odor nuisance. Or they may detect a potential danger, if they feel that an aggressive dog could jump over the fence. As a result of these complaints, the landlord could legitimately prohibit you from keeping these animals in the property.

Can pets be banned from a rental when they are NACs?

There are, however, some animals that cannot be banned. One thinks of most small animals that are part of what are called new pets or NACs. A dwarf rabbit, a hamster or a guinea pig are not likely to cause any major inconvenience. Provided that you do not engage in intensive breeding...

Our tips for properly managing the possession of animals in a rental

You have understood that to the question can we prohibit animals in a rental, the answer is positive in certain cases only. Also, to ensure a good understanding between tenant and landlord and to avoid the termination of a rental lease, it may be appropriate to add a rider to the rental agreement. This could specify the conditions of the authorization to keep pets. And if you do not reach a compromise, you will always have the SherlockHomes solution to quickly find a new apartment to rent.

This article cannot be exhaustive and does not engage the responsibility of its author.