How to find an apartment that will feel like home to both you and your pet(s).
Looking for a new place to live when you have pets can be stressful and overwhelming. After all, you want your new crib to be a good fit for you and your pets, and homes are not one size fits all. Understanding what keywords to look for, where to search, and what to expect will help maximize your efforts and minimize any disappointment at falling in love with a place that doesn’t allow your furry friend.
Many apartment search engines are constantly adjusting to help you find the right place. One of the things these websites do is allow you to filter your results by area, price, number of bedrooms and baths, and other special categories. Most of these websites feature some version of a filter that allows you to look at only ‘pet friendly’ rentals. Some websites like Zillow, allow you to filter by ‘Allows large dogs’, ‘Allows small dogs’, ‘Allows cats’, or ‘No pets’. Alternatively, Apartments.com offers its own set of filters: ‘Dog Friendly,’ ‘Cat Friendly,’ or ‘Dog and cat allowed.’
It’s important to note that ‘pet friendly’ is not the same thing as ‘pet inclusive’. Many apartment complexes will market themselves as pet-friendly, but upon further digging, you’ll learn that they have various breed, size, number, or species restrictions or have high pet fees. According to the Human Animal Bond Research Institute (HABRI), (Trusted Source) while 77% of pet-friendly rentals allow dogs, half of them have weight restrictions requiring the dog to be 45 pounds or less. These specifications are often not listed on rental search engines, so to learn more you’ll need to go to the rental company’s website or reach out to their office.
According to Best Friends, two-thirds of U.S. households have at least one cat or dog, and as the prominence of pets being a part of the family grows, so do the resources to find homes to accommodate. If you’re struggling with finding a home that fits your needs through the main rental search engines, check out a website that focuses on all locations pet-centric. PeoplewithPets.com is a directory that provides information on all sorts of locations that are pet-friendly; apartments included. If you’re looking to travel and need a hotel or destination that will welcome your furry friend, BringFido.com is at your disposal.
Many rental companies have breed restrictions (Trusted Source) in place that prohibit what are commonly seen as ‘aggressive’ breeds (Pit Bulls, Rottweilers, Dobermans, Mastiffs, etc.) and sporting or high-energy breeds (Huskies, German Shepherds, etc.). This can make it frustrating to find a home that will welcome you and your mixed-breed pup. If you’re struggling to find an apartment that will accommodate your dog, check out My Pitbull is Family—a group that has been working to combat this challenge since 2011, and has a national dog-inclusive rental database that is consistently updated.
Can’t seem to find an apartment complex that will rent to you with your mixed-breed dog? Look into apartments owned by individual landlords rather than an apartment complex. Individual landlords can be more forgiving of the type and number of pets you have since they are not controlled by a larger company.
As you begin looking for a new place to live, many websites will allow you to filter for your minimum and maximum rent. Though this is a good starting point to see how much the size of the space you want will cost in your area, keep in mind that most landlords will require some sort of one-time pet deposit, or pet fee, or require a monthly pet rent.
Pet fees are upfront compensation to the landlord in the case where the pet does damage, and they’re generally non-refundable. Most places that have a pet fee or deposit will require between $200-500. In lieu of charging a pet fee, some landlords will require rental insurance that will cover any damage your pet causes. As a tenant, it is helpful to have rental insurance that covers damage by your pet, as accidents happen even with the best planning.
Pet deposits are another option a landlord may require upfront when signing the lease. Pet deposits are generally refundable if your pet doesn’t cause damage to the apartment. Some landlords instill a pet rent in addition to or in lieu of these upfront charges. Pet rent generally ranges between $10-50 monthly, and may be a blanket fee for all pets, or charged per pet.
You know your pet is a good house guest, but many pets are not. Your landlord may have had bad experiences in the past. To help set your pet apart, draw up a ‘pet resume’ to present to your landlord. Helpful pieces of this include:
Most vets will stress that we only see pets for annual or semi-annual visits, so we cannot always attest to behavior outside the clinic.
Dr. Erica Irish
If your pet is a superstar at first impressions, ask your landlord to take the time to meet with you and ‘interview’ your pet to see for themselves. This tactic is particularly useful if you have a mixed breed dog that may be deemed an ‘aggressive’ breed on paper. Some landlords may have policies in place that restrict based on breed or size because of their past experiences or learned stigma, both of which are best combated by seeing that your pet doesn’t fit into that box.
If you can’t get your landlord or the board of the complex in person, start by writing a letter introducing your pet and explaining why you and your pet would be good tenants.
Many landlords require that tenants maintain renter’s insurance regardless of whether or not they have pets to ensure that any damage caused to the building is covered. To help alleviate any concern associated with having pets (and thus, additional liability for damage), consider purchasing pet liability coverage. This safety net provides you and your landlord peace of mind knowing that there is financial backing in case something goes awry.
Pet liability insurance can be used to help cover the costs of accidents caused by your pet. This could be anything from them chewing a hole in the wall to knocking down your elderly neighbor. Keep in mind that not all insurance plans include pet liability coverage, and only a select few don’t have breed restrictions so make sure to read your policy carefully.
Once you’ve found your new home, now it’s time to plan your move. As stressful as packing up and moving to a new spot is for you, remember, it’s ten times worse for your pet. Animals rely heavily on routine and structure; packing for a move and uprooting your life throws that routine to the wind. And since you can’t sit your pet down and explain what’s going on and why you’re changing their life, the best you can do is make the transition as smooth and painless as possible.
Many property owners believe that pets cause damage, add smells, and annoy neighbors. For this reason, many apartments either don’t allow pets, have various restrictions, or require some sort of pet fee.
Breeds commonly discriminated against include: American Pitbull Terriers, German Shepherds, Rottweilers, Doberman Pinschers, Alaskan Malamutes, Mastiffs, Siberian Huskies, Cane Corsos, and Akitas. These may vary based on the apartment company.
Laws regarding pet deposit and pet fees vary by state so make sure to do your research.
Craigslist is one of many websites that can be used to find a pet-friendly apartment. It’s particularly useful because many individual home or apartment owners will post availability on there.
