1. Give yourself enough time

To avoid hassles, start to check ads and contact real estate agents and rental agencies at least six weeks before your lease expires.

2. Understand why many housing communities reject pets

Put yourself in the shoes of a landlord, housing manager, property owner, or condominium association board member for a moment. They may be worried about complaints from neighbors about barking dogs, irresponsible pet owners who didn’t safely confine their animals or pick up their feces, sneaked pets in, or left ruined carpets and drapes when they moved out, and wonder how they are going to deal effectively with pet owners if problems arise. All these concerns are legitimate.

3. Make use of available resources

Contact the humane society or animal care and control agency serving the area into which you are moving; the agency may be able to provide you with a list of apartment communities that allow pets.

If you know any real estate agents, rental agents, or resident managers who own pets themselves or who share your love of animals, ask them for leads.

4. Recognize that it may be futile to try to sell yourself and your pet to a large rental community with a no-pets policy

You’re more likely to be successful if you focus on places that allow most pets, allow certain pets (for example, cats or dogs weighing less than 20 pounds), or that don’t say, “Sorry, no pets.”

5. Gather proof that you’re responsible

The more documentation you can provide attesting to your conscientiousness as a pet owner, the more convincing your appeal will be to your future landlord. Compile the following documents:

6. Make your request to the individual or group with the ultimate authority to grant your request

Usually this will be the owner of the house or apartment. The owner may, however, delegate the decision to a property manager or resident manager. Check to see if, in addition to obtaining the landlord’s approval, you must also submit a written request to the building’s board of directors (or association, in the case of a condominium community).

7. If you encounter a no-pets policy, ask if it is the result of a negative experience with a previous resident

Addressing your landlord’s prior experience may show you how to present your own request most effectively.

8. Let the landlord, manager, or condominium board know that you share any concerns about cleanliness

Point out that your pet is housetrained or litter-box trained. Emphasize that you always clean up after your dog outdoors and that you always properly dispose of your pet’s waste.

9. Promote yourself. Responsible pet owners make excellent residents

Let prospective landlords and managers know that you understand that living with a companion animal is a privilege, not a right.

10. Promote your pet

Offer to bring your pet to meet the owner or property manager, or invite the landlord to visit you and your pet in your current home. A freshly groomed, well-behaved pet will speak volumes.

Make it clear to the landlord, manager, or condominium board that you keep your cat inside and your dog under control at all times and that you understand the health and safety benefits of doing so.

11. Be willing to pay a little extra

Tell your prospective landlord or resident manager that you are willing to pay an extra security deposit to cover any damages your pet might make to the property.

12. Get it in writing

Once you have been given permission by a landlord, manager, or condominium committee to have a pet, be sure to get it in writing.

13. Be honest, don’t try to sneak your pet in

Keeping an animal in violation of a no-pets rule contributes to the general inclination of landlords not to allow pets.
Filed under Cat, Dog, Entirely Pets, Exotic Pets, Others |

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