Can I house share with a pet?

Man’s best friend is supposed to be a dog, and a pet can make a house feel like a home, so it’s not surprising that many homes have a pet dog or cat (other pets are available).

So how about sharing a house not just with a live-in owner or fellow housemate, but also with their pet?

With around 15% of live-in owners on Cohabitas offering house shares with a pet already in residence (Must like dogs etc.), there is a selection of homes that come ready for pet-lovers.

For some people not used to living with a pet, or not interested in sharing with someone else’s pet, this is a big problem, but for others it is a very attractive idea.

We wrote some months back about Akiko, a Japanese lodger in London, who was attracted to a place by the fact it was a house share with a cat, just like in her own home in Japan.

Whose dog or cat is it?

Increasingly we see housemates with a pet looking for a room. This presents a bigger barrier, as only 10% of rooms for rent say that pets are accepted.

That could be because they already have a pet and don’t want to disturb them, or they don’t want a pet in the home at all. Recent statistics show that 36% of UK homes claim to have a dog and 26% to have a cat, so this is definitely a factor.

Having another dog or cat come into the space of a resident dog or cat can often cause problems. Both are territorial. Besides, both the housemate and the live-in landlord don’t need a problem like this to deal with.

Living with a pet in shared accommodation

If pets are allowed, or are already resident, then the next question is one of doggie/cat etiquette. Although I am a dog lover and have had dogs in the home for 30 years (although not at present), I would never allow a dog upstairs, nor let it sit on the furniture. I certainly wouldn’t let a dog on my bed. Dog hair gets everywhere and let’s be frank, dog leave a smell.

Other owners of dogs allow all of these things. Admittedly they are usually smaller/town dogs, but it just shows how behaviours differ.

Cats tend to be more independent, but like dogs might not mix with other cats. Besides, some people might be allergic to cat hair and a friendly cat is the last thing they want. That said cats seem less intrusive maybe?

Feeling at home with a pet

If you are not concerned about these things or have good memories of a childhood pet, then living in a house share with a cat or dog can add a lot to the feeling of being at home.

Many housemates registered on Cohabitas indicate they like dogs, offering to walk them or pet-sit for owners when describing how they can be a useful housemate. This is a great help and of value to the live-in landlord, as kennels are expensive and somewhat traumatising for the animal.

Buddy-ups with a pet

If the supply of house shares accepting a pet in relatively low (10%) then finding a buddy-up with another pet owning housemate might be a good way to go. We have had several ads for people who own dogs, and a few for cats, where the housemate is looking for another cat or dog lover to share with (we get the same with parents with children). This makes a lot sense. Both parties will feel equal in determining the ‘rules’ for their pets in the home and both will already be tolerant of pets in the shared house.

Here are some doggie with housemate listings, so you can see what people are looking for. For these people, finding the right home is more complex, as it’s meeting two sets of needs!

Search for rooms in house shares accepting pets.