Pet friendly developments emerge to cater to pandemic lifestyle

Developers say this trend is a fragment of the wide shift to work-from-home arrangements popping up across the globe 

Developers said housing estates in Hong Kong are increasingly becoming more pet friendly to appease residents and homebuyers that have adopted dogs and cats amid the pandemic, reported South China Morning Post.  

Approximately half of Hong Kong’s major developments now cater to pets, a 40 percent jump from 2018, as stated by property consultancy Knight Frank.  

Martin Wong, director and head of research and consultancy at Knight Frank Greater China, said, “As people have been staying home and in town because of travel restrictions…more developers have considered adding some pet-friendly facilities to their projects.”  

As companies across the world implement remote working arrangements, this trend towards accommodating pets is part of a wider shift to creating post-pandemic homes and workspaces. Workers are looking for estates more suitable for their adopted animals that have kept them company during these unprecedented times.  

Developers are adapting as well, namely, Sun Hung Kai Properties’ (SHKP) Victoria Harbour in North Point, allowing hotel guests, residents, and mall-goers to live, shop, and stay with their pets.  

A spokesman said, “SHKP is conscious of pets becoming popular with many families in Hong Kong and, as such, is trying to make its residential developments pet friendly wherever appropriate.”  

“Victoria Harbour in North Point harbourfront is a key example, where residents or tenants can keep pets at home, as well as bringing them to designated outdoor garden areas on the podium outside the clubhouse, or the BBQ area.”  

This trend is not only apparent in Hong Kong, but homebuyers in Sydney, Australia refused to show up at scheduled viewings after finding out that pets were off-limits at a property.  

Michael Pallier, managing director at Sydney Sotheby’s International Realty, said, “Demand for homes with space for a pet, or overlooking a park, has also increased as many buyers have added to their family and adopted a dog. A few weeks ago, we had 29 enquiries for a new apartment in Rose Bay. As the building doesn’t allow pets only three buyers turned up for a viewing as the remaining 26 owned a dog.”  

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Yarra One in Melbourne features pet-friendly amenities like a pet wash facility, and it also partnered with a business that offers pet grooming and walking and sitting services.  

In Singapore, Midtown Modern by GuocoLand, a renowned developer that has won multiple accolades at the PropertyGuru Singapore Property Awards 2020, is designed with work from home arrangements in mind and consideration for pet owners.  

Dora Chng, general manager (residential) at the developer, said, “Generously-sized balconies provide spaces to house pets with natural air ventilation. The four-bedroom premium units also have a balcony extension to the master bedroom. Midtown Modern comes with a cosy pet corner, located next to the tennis court, where pets and their owners can play...and meet like-minded neighbours.”