There is no doubting that people love our pets. In fact, about 85 million families in the USA alone own at least one pet. Many love pets for companionship, for protection or just because of how darn cute they are. If you own a house, having a pet is a great way to make it feel like a home. Unfortunately, if you’re a renter, it’s not always easy to find pet-friendly apartments.
Less than 10% of housing options allow for pets without some sort of restriction on size, type or breed. So a large majority of apartments either don’t allow pets at all. Of course, this is a huge problem for people with pets that are looking to rent throughout the country.
With that in mind, this article is going to look at a few different tips for finding a pet-friendly apartment in your area.
Know How to Shop Around
The ways that people look for apartments have changed drastically in the past few years. Whereas people used to use traditional methods, they can now go online to a variety of different resources to look for apartments in their area. For example, with a few clicks you can search for Dallas apartments on UMoveFree and other sites.
Many of these online tools will assist you in narrowing down your search to only include certain apartments, such as ones that do or don’t accept pets. If you know how to properly use these tools and can shop around, you will have better luck finding potential apartments that are pet-friendly. The last thing you want to do is find the perfect unit, only to find out at the last second that they do not accept pets.
Create a “Resume” For the Pet
If you want the best chance of convincing a landlord to allow a pet, you need to sell them on the idea of your pet. When many landlords think of pets, they think about animals that can destroy floors, cause issues and make noise. You need to show them otherwise. A good way to do this is to create a pet resume. This could include their information, medical history, any certifications the pet may have and potentially even some glowing reviews from trainers, groomers or past landlords.
If this doesn’t work, you could consider having them meet your pet in some capacity to see if this can help change their mind or make their choice easier. Of course, this won’t always work as many apartments aren’t flexible in their “no pet” rules. However, some can definitely be swayed if you demonstrate you’re responsible and your pet is well-trained and respectful.
Be Willing to Pay for the Privilege
Money talks, simple as that. If some landlords are a bit uneasy about allowing pets, offering to pay a little bit of extra can help your cause. This could be in the form of an upfront deposit, or a small bit added to the rent every month. Of course, don’t let the lender try to take advantage of you in this situation.
If they are going to make you pay hundreds of dollars every month to have a pet, it is a better idea to look elsewhere. As for how much you should be paying, that will depend. Generally, a pet deposit is up to around 50% of monthly rent and the monthly cost should never really go over $50 or $100. Of course, this will depend on the competition in an area and how many housing options are available.
In conclusion, hopefully this article has made it easier for you to find a pet-friendly apartment that meets your needs.
