10 Helpful Tips for Securing a Rental with your Pet

Julie BrodieNo CommentsLandlords and Tenants
Renting with Your Best Friend

Renting with Your Best Friend

Trying to find a rental with a pet is enough to make you howl. It’s exasperating, particularly if you have a dog that’s bigger than Paris Hilton’s handbag. The knee-jerk “no pets” or “only dogs under 25 pounds” tag easily pops up on three-quarters of apartment listings. And those landlords who don’t imagine Buddy as the Tasmanian Devil instead see dollar signs, tacking on extraneous fees and pet rents that can add $1,000 a year or more to the cost of housing. But owners need to see it for themselves. So here are 10 tips to help prove your case:

Be a Good Pet Owner

This should go without saying, but let’s say it anyway. Before applying for an apartment, ask yourself if you know how to keep the cat from spraying and the dog from wailing in that home. Consult your local shelter for training classes. It’s your job to provide the right care, attention and exercise.

.Sympathize with the Owner’s Concerns

Apartments have different reasons for prohibiting pets.

.Sympathize with the Owner’s Concerns

Apartments have different reasons for prohibiting pets. Some tenants might be allergic. Some owners might subscribe to the once-common sentiment that animals are dirty and belong outside. It’s their property; you have to respect their position. Even so, owners are legitimately concerned about their tenants and their property. Acknowledge that there are bad pet owners out there. Be sympathetic to their past problems. Then describe exactly how you’ve prevented such occurrences in the past.Narrow your SearchTry checking that “dog” or “cat” box in online apartment listings first. A growing number of sites cater to pet-friendly rentals, such as PeopleWithPets.com but many link to big apartment companies with hefty fees. For smaller properties, check the Web sites at shelters, kennel clubs and humane societies.Ask AnywaySome landlords who don’t advertise that they accept pets will negotiate. So go ahead and ask. Property owners may get testy, but it also clues them into the demand, which could nudge their position later.Encourage the landlord to bring a checklist of questions about the pet, and show up with a well-groomed, well-behaved animal. Landlords own pets, too, and can get a sense of how well you care for yours.

Put Together Buddy’s Résumé

Yes, it’s actually called a pet résumé and, yes, it does work. It’s really about demonstrating your pedigree as a responsible human. You can do a search for pet résumés to find examples; here are some Basically, you include:

  • Veterinary documents that demonstrate regular care and up-to-date shots. Add if your pet has been spayed or neutered, because this can minimize some behavioral issues.
  • A description of your preventative treatment regimen for fleas, heartworm, etc.
  • An explanation of what Kitty or Buddy does all day. Is he alone? Does he stay in a crate or on a pad in the living room? Does he get lonely? Does a dog walker visit or do you come home and exercise him? Does Kitty have good toys to scratch instead of the wall-to-wall carpet? Are you fanatic about cleaning up spills?
  • Buddy’s diplomas from both undergraduate and graduate doggie school. OK, so, it’s not university, really. But if you don’t have that old certificate from dog-training class, or you trained Buddy yourself, think about obtaining a certificate from the AKC Canine Good Citizen Program, which requires your dog to pass a 10-step test. It just gives the landlord that extra reassurance that your pooch knows the basics.

Bring References

You wouldn’t go to a job interview without references, right? That’s just how to treat it. Get a note and contact number from a former landlord or neighbor. “That really goes a long way, especially when it goes from one landlord to another,” Ortiz says.

Offer to Pay an Extra Deposit

Many states limit the security deposit a landlord can require to one or two months’ rent, but landlords often ask for less. It helps if you can offer more. Good landlords know that deposits, which are refundable, serve as the best incentive for renters to take good care of the property. If you don’t have the money upfront, offer to pay installments.

Offer to Buy Renters Insurance

Many owners are concerned about their liability if your pet injures another tenant. If you have renters insurance, the liability portion should cover injuries caused by your pet. Victims have a far better chance of winning a claim against the pet owner and will typically come after you, not the landlord.Furthermore, proving to the landlord that your dog is safe is in itself protection for the landlord. In general, a landlord would be liable for your dog’s behavior only if he knew, or should have known, that there was a dangerous animal on the premises and did not take action to control or remove it. Check with your insurer to be certain that your policy will cover injuries, and to an adequate extent. If not, some companies also sell dog liability insurance, for added or separate coverage.

Factor in Long-Term Costs

Many smaller building owners don’t impose nonrefundable pet fees (in many states they’re illegal) and shy away from additional pet rent, unless the tenant prefers it to an additional security deposit. They want to keep tenants and to encourage them to keep the unit clean.

Apartment companies that do charge fees and monthly pet rents generally don’t want your pets to stay. It is a disincentive, and some will privately admit that they don’t wants pets.

Be a Good Representative of the Pet-Owning Species

Don’t leave wary owners any room to complain about pets because of your own mess. When you leave an apartment, leave it really spiffy, Try to create a momentum that tenants with pets are the best tenants in town.