For devoted cat and dog owners, finding a new apartment or rental property that will allow you to move in with your pet can be frustratingly difficult.
Landlords that allow cats, may not favour dogs. And those that allow dogs may tell you in no uncertain terms that your dog is above the allowable weight limit. Those who have spent considerable time looking for a pet-friendly rental property to no avail could be forgiven for considering the merits of fish ownership.
But while finding a cat or dog-friendly flat or rental house may be difficult, it’s certainly not impossible. In this post, we’ll offer a few tips on finding a place where you and your furry friend can live in peace and comfort.
Limit your search
When you know that you’ll be living with a cat or a dog, do yourself a favour and limit your search to those places that are likely to accept you. Tell your rental agency about your needs; search for apartments that have a clearly stated pets-allowed policy; and ask local pet owners or animal-care facilities if they can make any suggestions. This approach is vastly superior than trying to talk one after another reluctant landlord into making an exception for you.
Be an advocate for your pet
Assuming your pet is well-behaved and a pleasure to be around, embrace the opportunity to show this off. Ask your friends and neighbours to write a short letter of recommendation. It could actually improve your chances.
Start searching early
You’ll find that those places which do allow pets are very popular and often booked solid. Starting the search well before you plan to move gives you plenty of lead time in case someone is moving out in the next few weeks or months.
Above all, be patient and understand that many landlords are justifiably going to ask for higher deposits and, in some cases, extra rent. For loving pet owners, the slight extra expense is usually worth it.