So... another Homegate question.

I am trying to find a place that will allow me my two dogs. So I click off the "Haustiere erlaubt" box (which I just realized recently that I can do this in English) and click the "Suche" button. This cuts down the returned results from about 500 for the Canton to just 60 right away... then add in square meters and price range and, well, the pickins is slim.

And that's my question.

Am I possibly missing out on 100 or more other options because the landlords typically choose not to include that pets are allowed?

(and let's not even mention that I want my own Waschküche).

P.S. I am looking in BS, BL for right now.

I had to look up Waschküche... Don't forget to but in the English terms.

Anyway, I wouldn't put either the pet or "own laundry" criteria in. Properties go so fast that many of the ads are not complete. Anyway, you can sometime put in your own laundry if there is room in the kitchen or two bathrooms.

Sometimes information about pets is in text of the ad, or not at all, and they want you to ask so they can ascertain how many pets you have, what type, etc. It is not like missing to tick the box asking about a lift, where it is either a yes or no. The keeping of pets is more complicated.

The answer is: As in most other websites, say ebay, the "data quality" is bad - people do not fill out the form completely. For example are the twenty or so categories in which a seller should put his house so confusing that they simply click "house"... so if you limit your search for a specific type of house, you might miss exactly the one you are looking for.

With animals it is even easier: Would you as a landlord explecitely state "any type of animal is welcome"? I wouldn't. Even if I like your dog, I maybe do not want the five pitbulls of the other guy... so you would typically write some comment at the very bottom of the ad, but not advertise your house with "bring as much fauna as you can"...

From my experience, most landlords will never imply that pets are allowed.

This allows them to use their own discretion when selecting a tennant.

I say, if the place suits = GO FOR IT !!!, (besides, you are already on a 'NO' to start with so you lose nothing )

Most of my rented places were always a 'NO' to pets, but generally if you can display that you are a reliable tennant and have your references etc. they usually make an exception.


@Treverus: thanks for bringing up the "five pitbulls"....... ha ha, a staffy and a bullmastif were hard enough to find somewhere to live with.

Yeap - doesnt mean that the ad doesnt state specifically that "Pets are allowed" means that they arent. On the other hand, when it says PETS NOT ALLOWED, really means that they arent allowed.

Most of the ads I've rung didnt state anything about pets, so I asked anyway. If it helps, offer to bring your two dogs to the viewings (those specific private appointments, not open houses) to show how good they are. Thats what I did

Good luck in your search.

Thanks to all for your help. I'll have to broaden my house hunting horizons now.