German for Renters: How to Ask 'Are Pets Allowed?' and Understand Pet Policies
Learn to ask if pets are allowed in a German rental, understand common restrictions, and use polite, standard German phrases for apartment hunting.
By SofiaGetting around · Yapr Learn
When looking for an apartment in Germany, one of the first questions you may need to ask is whether pets are allowed. German rental listings often state 'Haustiere nach Absprache' or 'keine Haustiere', and landlords may have specific rules. This lesson teaches you how to ask clearly and politely, and how to understand the answer. You will learn key phrases, a useful grammatical pattern, and cultural context to navigate this common situation.
By the end, you can…
- ask if pets are allowed in a rental unit.
- understand and respond to common pet policy restrictions in German.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
Sind Haustiere erlaubt?
Are pets allowed?
zint HOWS-tee-ruh air-LOWPT
Standard polite question. Use 'Haustiere' for pets in general. This is the most direct way to ask.
Darf ich einen Hund halten?
Am I allowed to keep a dog?
darf ikh EYE-nen hunt HAL-ten
Use 'halten' for keeping an animal. Replace 'einen Hund' with 'eine Katze' (a cat) or 'einen Wellensittich' (a budgie) as needed.
Sind Katzen erlaubt?
Are cats allowed?
zint KAH-tsen air-LOWPT
Asking about a specific type of pet. Note the plural 'Katzen'.
Haustiere sind nicht erlaubt.
Pets are not allowed.
HOWS-tee-ruh zint nikht air-LOWPT
Common restriction. You may see this in listings or hear it from a landlord.
Haustiere nur nach Absprache.
Pets only by arrangement.
HOWS-tee-ruh noor nakh AHP-shprah-khuh
Means the landlord may allow pets case-by-case. You need to ask and get permission.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
To ask if something is allowed, use 'Sind ... erlaubt?' for plural nouns or 'Ist ... erlaubt?' for singular. For example: 'Sind Hunde erlaubt?' (Are dogs allowed?), 'Ist eine Katze erlaubt?' (Is a cat allowed?). To ask about keeping a specific pet, use 'Darf ich ... halten?' with the accusative case: 'Darf ich einen Hund halten?' (May I keep a dog?). Note that 'halten' is used for keeping pets, while 'haben' (to have) is less common in this context.
When to use it
Use these phrases when speaking to a landlord, property manager, or in a viewing appointment. If you are reading a listing, look for keywords like 'Haustiere erlaubt', 'keine Haustiere', or 'Haustiere nach Absprache'. In formal writing, you might see 'Die Haltung von Haustieren ist nicht gestattet' (The keeping of pets is not permitted). When asking in person, start with a polite greeting: 'Guten Tag, ich habe eine Frage: Sind Haustiere erlaubt?' This shows respect and clarity.
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
Guten Tag, ich interessiere mich für die Wohnung. Sind Haustiere erlaubt?
Good day, I am interested in the apartment. Are pets allowed?GOO-ten tahk, ikh in-teh-reh-SEER-uh mikh fewr dee VOH-noong. zint HOWS-tee-ruh air-LOWPT?Das kommt darauf an. Was für ein Haustier haben Sie?
That depends. What kind of pet do you have?dahs komt dah-ROWF ahn. vahs fewr ine HOWS-teer HAH-ben zee?Ich habe eine kleine Katze. Ist das in Ordnung?
I have a small cat. Is that okay?ikh HAH-buh EYE-nuh KLY-nuh KAH-tsuh. ist dahs in ORD-noong?Eine Katze ist kein Problem, aber Hunde sind nicht erlaubt.
A cat is not a problem, but dogs are not allowed.EYE-nuh KAH-tsuh ist kine proh-BLAYM, AH-ber HOON-duh zint nikht air-LOWPT.A little context goes a long way
In Germany, rental pet policies vary widely. Many landlords specify 'Haustiere nach Absprache' (pets by arrangement), meaning you must ask and get written permission. Small pets like hamsters or fish are often allowed without asking, but cats and dogs usually require approval. It is common to include pet details in your rental application. Note that in Austria and Switzerland, similar phrases are used, but 'Haustiere' is standard in all three countries. Always clarify before signing a lease to avoid misunderstandings.
One thing to watch for
Using 'Haben Sie Haustiere?' to ask if pets are allowed.
Try this instead: 'Haben Sie Haustiere?' means 'Do you have pets?' (asking the landlord). To ask if pets are allowed, say 'Sind Haustiere erlaubt?' or 'Darf ich Haustiere halten?'
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1How do you ask 'Are pets allowed?' in German?
Show a sample answer
Sind Haustiere erlaubt?
This is the standard polite question. You could also ask 'Darf ich Haustiere halten?' but 'Sind Haustiere erlaubt?' is more common.
2What does 'Haustiere nur nach Absprache' mean?
Show a sample answer
Pets only by arrangement.
This means pets are not automatically allowed; you must discuss and get permission from the landlord.
3Translate: 'May I keep a dog?'
Show a sample answer
Darf ich einen Hund halten?
Use 'Darf ich ... halten?' with the accusative 'einen Hund'. You could also say 'Ist ein Hund erlaubt?' but the first is more natural for keeping.
To ask about pets in a German rental, use 'Sind Haustiere erlaubt?' or 'Darf ich einen Hund/eine Katze halten?' Listen for 'nicht erlaubt' (not allowed) or 'nach Absprache' (by arrangement). Always clarify before signing a lease.
Progress is saved on this browser.
Practice real time conversations on Yapr for faster learning.
Put today’s German into a conversation with an AI tutor. Speak, make mistakes, and try again.
Practice on Yapr