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    How do you even find an apartment with a pet in Belgium these days?
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    How do you even find an apartment with a pet in Belgium these days?

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    26 Comments

    1. HarukiKougami on

      Fuck all the home owners. That’s why I don’t live in primitive countries like that. Cheers!

    2. insomnia_000 on

      Having a pet is always frowned upon for most owners. Just don’t disclose it, it’s not about being honest, it’s about being “discriminated” against because a lot people don’t have a dog that behaves or there is irrational fair of destroying the place.

      What can help is to include some background on hO you trained the dog, etc

    3. licheese on

      I do not have a pet, but from what I hear around me : if it’s not written clearly that they do not accept it, do not mention the animal.

      Not really ethical per say but most of the time, it works.

      If the animal is not a wall or furniture destroyer you shouldn’t have any issue this way.

    4. Altruistic-Past1353 on

      I dont think they offer that alot.
      You can just rent an apartment and get the pet afterwards.

    5. MyOldNameSucked on

      By not mentioning them and not smelling like them when you go look at an apartment. If the property is suitable for the pet in question it’s illegal for your landlord to ban it. A husky isn’t suitable for an apartment, but the dog in this picture is. However if your potential future landlord can choose between 2 otherwise similar candidates there is nothing wrong with them picking the one without pets. So until you have a signed contract you hate animals with a passion.

    6. Xayahbetes on

      I thought they weren’t allowed to deny pet owners? I might be confusing it with the Netherlands but I’m pretty sure even stating “no pets allowed” on the listing or contract is not legally binding

    7. OneGeekyBelgian on

      The other way around is also fun. If you wanna adopt, at least. Local shelters have a severe dislike of people who don’t have a yard. Even if you just wanna adopt a cat. :/

    8. deeeevos on

      Hey, the law actualy states appartements cannot prohibit pets anymore if you buy an appartement. But depending on the pet, your neighbours might not appreciate it.

      If you want to rent that’s a different question though, landlord has final say.

    9. flyingabroom on

      From what I’ve seen, smartest thing to do is not mention having a dog/cat until the contract is signed and then let it be a fait accompli. If the dog is well behaved and there’s no complaints you’ll probably be fine. I haven’t done this myself but I currently live in a building that has a strict “no pets” rule and I might be the only tenant without a pet 😭

    10. Qantourisc on

      <joke> Sorry you can’t rent an appartement with a pet included. It’s frowned upon to rent out a pet as an amenity. </joke>

    11. padetn on

      I’ve moved out of a place before because I lived next to one of those neglected dogs that barked for literally hours every day, I can imagine some landlords not being too fond of the scenario where they get every neighbor complaining or leaving because of one bad pet owner.

    12. xiiime on

      It depends on the Region.

      In Brussels, it’s forbidden to include such a ban in new contracts, as it’s an invasion of privacy. They can, however, include clauses that prevent possible nuisances or damages to the property or neighborhood (which is often the case for dogs).

      But in Wallonia and Flanders, there exists no such rule. However, if a landlord tries to get you evicted for such grounds it’s very unlikely that the judge would enforce it, as it’s an invasive clause. So, in effect, the only consequence of such a clause in the contract is that you’d have to support all if any cost emerging from having pets in your house, and cannot really relegate those damages to “normal tenant” damage. For dogs (as I would guess from the picture), it may include claws scratches on the floorings (so it can be expensive consequences, but I can’t quote a specific jurisprudence for such a case).

      So in effect, not mentioning you have a pet is not illegal, not mentioning you intent on owning one neither, and shouldn’t lead to a termination of the contract.

      Now if you get caught, depending on the region, you may have troubles to get the contract tacitly reconducted.

    14. Emergency_Employ7576 on

      Like the people mentioned before, a landlord can’t deny you or kick you out for having a pet. They can of course choose for someone else to have the apartment.

      You are in no obligation to tell them you have a pet.

      Even if it’s explicitly stated in the contract that no pets are allowed, you can still sign that contract and have your pet.

      The Belgian government considers a pet as part of the family so you are allowed by them and Belgian law goes above your contract.

      Meaning if it’s in the contract that line is considered void while the rest of the contract is still valid and legal.

      Small sidenote, as also mentioned before. We’re talking about 1 or 2 pets. For example 10 dogs in a small apartment would not be allowed cause then they will not be considered as part of the family.

      Or if they keep everyone up at night all the time. Since that would disturb the peace of your neighbours and that in itself is prohibited as well.

    15. schuppenboer on

      By thinking thigs through and making sure you got a place to live BEFORE getting the pet

    16. IlConiglioUbriaco on

      Apartments don’t usually come with pets. You need to bring your own. However, if you get a house with a backyard, you can easily attract the neighbouring cats.

    17. hondwerpen on

      Honesty goes a long way.. as well as a good connection between landlord and tenant…

      Someday you might need his favor for whatever reason and he can show you his goodwill or not / depending in how you have approached this situation

    18. Melodic_Reality_646 on

      Moved 3 times, never mentioned about my dog, only informed after I moved in that I’d “get one”.

    19. emiel1741 on

      It is illegal to deny you /kick you out for it but well they have many choices often so no way to prove the pet was the reason for denial

      So do not mention pets if they ask lie afterwards they can’t kick you out

      (But this right only applies if you domicile in the location)

    21. Downtown-Complex2657 on

      I think the previous tenants usually take them while moving out so not sure.

    23. ristlincin on

      I’m not going to read every comment, but as soneone thathas had pets in 3 out of the 5 places i’ve rented, just assume you will not see more than half your caution, at most.

    24. Korsaro_Khan on

      I usually look for an apartment first and then get the pet, weird to rent an apartment that already includes a pet you don’t even own

    25. SemDentesApanhaNozes on

      Finding an apartment with a pet its pretty hard, maybe you get an apartment and then you get the pet.