What landlords mean by pet-friendly
- Cats: most leases require the landlord's consent; if the lease says nothing, pets are generally allowed, but the landlord can still act if an animal causes problems
- Dogs: nearly always require written consent. Size and breed matter (Listenhunde face additional cantonal restrictions)
- Small caged animals (guinea pigs, hamsters, budgies, fish): allowed in reasonable numbers
- Reptiles, exotic pets: usually require consent + proof of Tierschutzverordnung compliance
- Large aquariums: may need consent (water damage liability)
Where to search
On aptari you search one open feed of listings from Homegate, ImmoScout24, Flatfox and cooperative websites. Filter the feed for pet-friendly listings, and add Pets OK to the must-haves in your search preferences so they are highlighted. If you search portal by portal instead, use:
- Homegate: Ausstattung → Haustiere erlaubt
- ImmoScout24: Weitere Suchfilter → Haustier
- Flatfox: tag pets allowed
Cost premium
- Cleaning surcharge sometimes built into the rent
- Higher deposit up to the three-month cap
- Specific exit clean for upholstery, parquet
What to declare
- Species, breed, weight, age
- Behavioural history + previous landlord references
- Liability insurance covering pet damage (see Haftpflicht)
- Vet vaccination record for dogs
Concealing pets can be grounds for early termination of your lease.
Cantonal dog rules
- Dog tax, set by the commune
- Listenhunde (Rottweiler, Pitbull etc): cantonal permit required
- Mandatory liability insurance in most cantons
Direct-landlord listings
Flatfox and private classifieds often more flexible than corporate Verwaltungen.