Any advice regarding this?
I'm currently in Canada. My partner is a Kiwi that moved to Canada and obtained his PR card and in the process of obtaining citizenship here. He was offered a lucrative job in Aucklanda nd I'm hoping to complete my PhD in ChCh. The job starts March 2nd, and he landed in Auckland a few days ago. I'm staying here with the cat to finish my Masters (and wait out her rabies time). We are planning to move mid-June.
But my partner's having a really hard time finding a place that will rent to people with pets. Is there anything we can do/offer? We are bringing the cat from Canada, and have two letters of reference from previous people we've rented from. Both explicitly mention the cat caused no damage and wasn't a problem, but every time we call up a person renting and try to bring up the pet they just brush up off. The cat doesn't spray, is quiet, is spayed, has never gone outside the box, never goes outside (so local wildlife is safe!) My partner's having a hard time figuring out how to ask, or getting a chance to show the reference letters or offer to pay a pet fee. As soon as the cat somes up he gets brushed off or hung up on pretty much. Any advice?
Should my partner just not mention the pet until later, maybe once the landlord asks for reference letters? Should we not mention the cat at all and hope in 3 months the relationship with the landlord will be better and we can ask then?
I'm finding it really strange, because here in Canada I'm used to pets being fine with a non-refundable pet deposit, usually around $400. But 90% of rental properties here refuse to rent to tenant with small children. It seems to go the other direction in nz - people are fine with toddlers scribbling on walls but not cats or dogs. Do most people in the city just not own pets?