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.