Many people love pets, but finding a pet-friendly apartment is not a walk in the park. Below are some helpful tips to help you find an apartment that will welcome you and your animal friend.
Target Single-Family Rentals
Many landlords don't want to rent out to pet owners for fear that the pets might upset other tenants. The risk of that happening is higher in a shared property than it is in a single-family property. It will just be you and your pet in your apartment. Thus, you should consider such properties if you have a pet.
Consult Relevant Organizations
Some organizations can also point you in the right direction if you consult them. Examples include the Humane Society of the United States, local animal shelters, and many advocacy groups. Many of these organizations also have online resources you can harvest when hunting for your pet-friendly rental.
Avail Relevant Papers
Having the right documents can also strengthen your search. For example, you should have all vaccination papers for your pet to show potential landlords that your animal is disease-free. In case you have a dog, avail documents that show obedience training so that no one can use the aggressive tag on the animal. In fact, even references from past landlords (preferably where you also stayed with the pet) can help.
Give Yourself Ample Time
Many landlords don't want to deal with the hassles, real or otherwise, of renting to a pet owner. However, many landlords also don't have problems with pet owners. The problem is the difficulty of separating one category of landlords from the other. You will need ample time for the hunt, so don't make it a rush job.
Be a Little Flexible
You can also accelerate your hunt for a pet-friendly rental by being a little flexible. This advice doesn't mean you have to ignore the due process or move into a rundown apartment just because it accepts pets. However, you should scrutinize your must-haves carefully to ensure you don't ignore a great property for, say, a cosmetic problem. Another example would be moving into a slightly smaller space if the owner doesn't have a problem with your animal friend.
Specify the Pet
Lastly, you should also inform your landlords about the type of pet you have when reaching out to them. Some pets scare more people than others. For example, there is a difference between a pit bull and a poodle, even though both are dogs.
Learn more about your options by researching local pet-friendly apartments.
