How to Find Pet-Friendly Housing When Moving Abroad

One of the hardest parts of international relocation with a pet is something most guides do not cover well: actually finding somewhere to live. Clearing customs and quarantine is only half the battle. Showing up in a new country with a large dog and no housing sorted is a situation many expats have found themselves in. Here is how to avoid it.

Start Before You Leave

The golden rule: secure housing before you land. This is harder in some countries than others – some rental markets (especially in hot cities like Lisbon, Amsterdam or Sydney) move so quickly that good properties are gone before you arrive. But arriving without a confirmed address creates a cascade of problems: where does your pet go from the airport? Where do you both sleep on night one?

Options:

• Serviced apartments: usually more pet-friendly than standard rental properties; the short-term nature of the agreement and the commercial operation model tends to make pet policies more flexible; more expensive but provides a base to search from
• Airbnb / VRBO: check the “pets allowed” filter; useful for the first 2 to 4 weeks while you search for permanent accommodation
• Expat housing Facebook groups: often have landlords who specifically target expats and are accustomed to pets

Which Countries Are Most Pet-Friendly for Renters?

Broadly pet-friendly rental cultures:

• Germany: Germans are generally enthusiastic dog owners; many landlords accept pets, especially dogs, particularly if you offer a pet deposit
• Netherlands: Amsterdam and other Dutch cities have more pet-acceptable housing than the EU average; check “huisdieren toegestaan” (pets permitted) in listings
• Spain: private landlords in coastal and rural areas tend to be flexible; apartment blocks in cities can be stricter
• Portugal: generally pet-accepting landlord culture outside Lisbon’s competitive market
• New Zealand: pet bonds are allowed (additional deposit for pets) which makes many landlords more willing

Markets where finding pet-friendly housing is harder:

• Japan: many Japanese rental contracts explicitly exclude pets (pets not permitted is common in standard apartment leases); look for “ペット可” (pets permitted) listings specifically; expat-targeted housing agencies often have better access to pet-friendly properties
• Singapore: most HDB (public housing) rules restrict pets, particularly large dogs; private condominiums have their own rules; most condominiums allow cats and small dogs but have breed restrictions on dogs
• UAE: residential leases vary; most villa compounds allow pets; many apartment buildings do not; check explicitly and get pet permission in writing

How to Approach Landlords About Pets

• Be upfront early – mentioning a large dog at the lease signing stage rather than at the viewing will save everyone time
• Offer a pet deposit (typically one month’s rent is reasonable) to cover any damage
• Provide references from a previous landlord confirming your pet caused no damage
• Offer professional carpet/upholstery cleaning at the end of tenancy as a standard clause
• For cats, note that cats are generally viewed as less risky than dogs by landlords

Lease Clauses to Watch For

• “No pets” clauses in standard lease templates are common in many countries; a verbal agreement to allow your pet that is not reflected in a lease addendum provides no legal protection
• Some leases specify “no pets” but mean “no large pets” – clarify in writing
• If the landlord agrees to pets, ensure the lease addendum specifies the species, breed and maximum number of animals
• Check whether the lease restricts the maximum size (weight or breed) of the animal

Online Resources

• Rentola.com, Rightmove Overseas, Idealista (Spain/Portugal), Funda (Netherlands), ImmobilienScout24 (Germany) – most major property portals allow you to filter by “pets welcome”
• InterNations.org expat groups for your destination city: a direct question on the forum often yields the best local agent or landlord contacts
• Country-specific expat Facebook groups: for every major expat destination city, there is a large Facebook group where members actively help each other find pet-friendly housing

Sources: Expat housing survey data; rental law summaries for Germany (BGB), Netherlands, Spain, Japan, Singapore; IPATA member agent guidance on pre-arrival housing.