So you’re thinking about getting a pet in Spain. You’ve already searched out and found the perfect cat or dog, found a nice space for them in the house, and perhaps even thought about a name.

But the property isn’t yours. Despite living there and paying for it, ultimately you’re renting.

Anyone with a pet knows renting a house or flat can prove tricky. Not only convincing your landlord to allow you to get one, but for those already with pets, finding a property in the first place can be a struggle. 

According to a study carried out by Spanish property website Fotocasa, tenants in Spain are having more and more problems finding landlords that accept their pets. Only around 5 percent of advertised rentals allow pets. 

Even though pet ownership is huge in Spain (30 million pets), the vast majority of landlords seem a little sceptical about allowing animals into their properties. So, what happens if you’re already renting a place and then decide to get a pet? Do you have to tell the landlord?

Spanish law

Legally speaking, no. The relevant law for this, Spain’s LAU (ley de arrendamientos urbanos) does not specifically ban pets in rented properties.

However, it’s not that simple. Landlords can say no, but a clause explicitly banning pets must appear in the contract, otherwise the tenant may keep their animals in the property as long as they keep the property in good condition and respect the rules with the neighbours.

Technically speaking, if the landlord doesn’t specify it in the contract, tenants have the right to get a pet without being penalised.

READ ALSO: Renting in Spain when you have a pet – What are my rights?

However, anyone with any experience of the rental market knows this probably wouldn’t go down well. Some landlords might not have bothered to include a ‘no pet’ clause in the contract but instead verbally told the tenants not to.

As such, communication is key here. Tell your landlord you’re thinking about getting a pet and try your best to reassure them it won’t change anything and the property won’t be damaged.

Ways to sweeten the agreement may include taking out damage insurance, hiring a cleaner or paying them an extra month of deposit.

If you do get a pet and choose not to tell your landlord, you’re running the risk of souring your relationship with the person who owns the property where you live.

This doesn’t seem a good idea, and, depending on the landlord, they could then try and find another excuse to kick you out.

For those who decide to get a pet despite the contract explicitly banning them, this would be a clear breach of contract and the landlord would be within their legal rights to terminate the contract and evict you.

A community of neighbours cannot prevent you from having a pet but they can limit where the pet can spend time (courtyard etc) and if they soil common areas or cause noise or damage that affect others neighbours, landlords can have more reasons to evict you.