Pets in Rentals: What to Record in your Entry Condition Report Before the Paws Hit the Floor

Dogs looking out of window like watching TV

A budgie looking at its reflection

A baby budgie amongst unhatched eggs

A brown rabbit in an outside hutch

A dog sniffing around a backyard tree

An indoor rabbit sitting on a rug

A baby budgie growing its feathers

A dog sitting on furniture inside

A border collie cooling down in a backyard wading pool with a ball in its mouth

Pet fish in an aquarium

Five dogs sitting on and near a backyard rabbit hutch

A pet rabbit eating garden weeds

🐶 Before the Zoomies Begin…

You’ve signed the lease. Your pet’s tail is wagging. The agent said “pet-friendly” like they meant it. But before your furry friend even thinks about zoomies on the carpet - you need to get serious about your Entry Condition Report.

Because when your lease ends, any scratch, stain or furball is likely to be blamed on your adorable crime partner (even if it was already there when you moved in).

Here’s what you need to record before the paws hit the floor - and how Inspect-PCR can help protect your bond.

🛋️ 1. Carpet Condition: Pre-Zoomie Evidence

Pets + carpets = scrutiny. Before your cat does their first midnight marathon or your dog belly-flops in joy, check for:

• Existing stains or spills

• Fraying or loose carpet threads

• Burn marks or furniture dents

• Smells (yes, odours count - even if it’s not your dog’s doing)

📸 Use your foot or a toy in the photo for scale.

🚪 2. Doors, Walls & Skirting Boards: The Scratch Zones

Check for any existing:

• Scratch marks on doors

• Chewed door frames

• Paint chips at tail-height

• Scuffed skirting boards

Even if it’s previous furniture damage, document it now so it’s not blamed on your pet later.

🌿 3. Gardens: Dig Sites & Dash Tracks

Outdoor access is great - until your dog goes full archaeologist.

• Photograph holes, dug-up patches, and burnt grass

• Look for loose or broken fencing

• Note any existing paths made from pet zoomies past

🐾 Also record hazards like snail bait, broken gates or barbed wire.

🪟 4. Windows & Screens: Cat TV is Real

Cats love a good windowsill. So do dogs with FOMO.

• Check for clawed flyscreens

• Bent frames or screen pop-outs

• Wobbly window locks pets could nudge open

📸 Balcony barriers? Photograph those too.

🚽 5. Laundries & Outdoor Fixtures: The Forgotten Zones

You’d be amazed what gets overlooked (and then blamed on pets).

• Rusty or sagging clotheslines

• Drain covers pets could disturb

• Taps, hoses, or outdoor bowls already damaged or mouldy

🎯 If it’s a risk or it looks dodgy - record it.

✅ Bonus: Things to Document in Writing & in the Entry Condition Report

• Pet approval in your lease: Screenshot and save the clause.

• Approval to replace/breed Pets: Also screenshot and save the clause.

• Existing odours or marks: Even if you don’t know the cause.

🛡️ Want Backup? Hire the Pet Damage Detectives 🔍

At Inspect-PCR, we conduct independent Entry Condition Reports that document the true state of your rental before your pet even steps inside.

No fluff. No bias. Just:

• High-res photo documentation

• Pet damage hotspots professionally scanned

• A complete report designed to protect you

🐕 Protect Your Pet. Protect Your Bond.

Your pet might be perfect. But when it comes to property inspections, landlords don’t take your dog’s word for it.

📸 Record everything before the paws hit the floor. Or let Inspect-PCR handle it for you.

🎯 Share this blog with:

• Your mate whose dog just moved in

• A renter unsure how to do a pet-friendly inspection

• That one friend who thinks “pet-friendly” means “damage deposit optional”