Finding a pet-friendly apartment doesn’t have to be a pain. Many rental platforms, including Rentable, offer pet-friendly filtering options within listing pages. For example, you might consider visiting Rentable's pet-friendly search page to start.
Pet-friendly apartments are extremely common today. Pet ownership rates in the United States show no signs of slowing down, which means property managers and landlords are now, more than ever, willing to accept tenants with pets. According to research, cities like Chicago, Los Angeles and San Francisco more than half of the available units allow pets.
The average price of a pet-friendly apartment varies widely, in large part due to the difference in rent price across the country. The important piece of information to focus on is the additional costs and fees for having a pet in your apartment. For example, the price of your pet-friendly unit may not be any more expensive in terms of rent price than a non-pet-friendly place, but the pet fees might cause a small increase in monthly payments.
According to a recent study by Pet Finder, most pet-friendly rentals were found to charge a separate pet deposit. The average pet deposit was between 40% and 85% of the rent, depending on what data was used. In general, it should be noted that in addition to a separate pet deposit the average total deposit was larger for pet-friendly housing. The prevalence of pet deposits varied by location. Additionally, the spread in deposit usage between locations was sizeable.
The pet deposit covers many potential issues. Some of these include, but are not limited to, insurance for the unit, damage to the unit because of pets and the time spend on pet-related issues.
If your lease states that your pet deposit is non-refundable, this means that you make the one-time deposit and you will NOT receive the money back when your lease ends. Unlike a security deposit — you’ll likely get your security deposit money back when your lease ends — your pet deposit will not be refunded, even if you cause no damage to the unit.
Pet rent is a fee charged on a monthly basis and is separate from the pet deposit. This monthly charge covers the cost of your pet actually living in your rental. Rentals are not required by law to allow pets to be on the premise unless they are a service pet or involved with your functioning on a daily basis (such as a seeing-eye dog).
Many property managers and landlords charge this recurring monthly “pet rent” in the amount of $50-$100. It is simply an additional amount of money added to the regular rent, and this practice is becoming more popular. The amount of pet rent could vary based on the number and type of pets allowed.
We recommend that you follow the guidelines provided by your apartment community or property manager. It is not advisable to host a pet in your apartment without notifying the owner or management company. In many cases, this could result in serious legal trouble. In most cases, the landlord or owner has legal power to charge a pet fee or rent, as long as you and your pet are occupying the rental.
Be sure to check your state laws before paying pet fees, pet rent or other pet deposits. States vary on whether owners can even charge pet deposits or pet fees – so please do check your state laws. If you’re in a state that doesn’t allow this, or if you’re renting from someone in any state with a service or companion animal, charging a pet deposit or pet fee may not be allowed.
Pairing a pet-friendly apartment with a thoughtfully selected breed can ensure years of happiness for you and your favorite furry roommate. But carefully choosing a pet that will thrive in your apartment doesn’t mean you have to go to a breeder or a pet store.
Every year, thousands of cats and dogs are euthanized because they don't have a home. Rentable actively supports pet rescue organizations throughout the country. If you're considering a new pet, please contact a local shelter, rescue or a reputable breeder before going to a pet store.
Rescue organizations around the country are seeking homes for a wide variety of cat and dog breeds that would make a wonderful, loving addition to your renting household.