Dog in apartment

Article by Brentnie Daggett, Rentec Direct

The latest stats from the ASPCA show that more than 40 percent of households have a pet as part of the family. Anyone who has a furry friend knows how much fun, joy and comfort that they can bring into the home. But, pet owners can also tell you how difficult it can be to find a rental that they love where their pets are greeted with open arms by property management.

If you find yourself in need of a rental for yourself and man’s best friend there are a few tricks to know to find the perfect pet-friendly rental.

Search Smart Online

Searching for a pet-friendly rental and not limiting your search results beforehand is begging for tears of frustration. Renters with pets can find themselves sifting through dozens of options where the landlords are, for various reasons, simply unwilling to budge on their no-pets rule.

Don’t waste your time vetting through all the options out there, instead search specifically for pet-friendly rentals. Aside from the standard craigslist search, you can explore Trulia.com’s “All Filters” selection. The specific filters on Trulia can help pet owners narrow down their rental search even further by selecting only listings that allow cats, small dogs, large dogs and other pets. Furthermore, owners of more than one type of pet can ensure that they are looking at listings that allow both cats and dogs, for instance.

Prepare for Success

Pet-friendly rentals are notoriously limited, making them increasingly more competitive. Just like you will want to prepare a rental resume for yourself, you should consider preparing an additional resume for your four-legged roommate as well.

Include pertinent information including your pet’s breed, weight, vaccination records and a brief description of your pet’s personality. If your pet has undergone any obedience classes, this will also be important to note.  A pet resume will help your landlord get to know your pet, and it conveys that you are a responsible and prepared pet owner. If possible, alongside your pet’s resume, include a reference letter from your current landlord, current neighbors and even your veterinarian.

Many landlords are apprehensive of certain breeds of animal because of their overall reputation to be destructive or aggressive. A good pet resume can show an uncertain landlord that your pet is well behaved, does not disrupt the neighbors, and is fully taken care of medically. If you think you might need to find a new rental in the future, keep that in mind when selecting an animal as some insurances don’t cover certain breeds and will make it more difficult to find a rental property.

Time is Your Friend

Finding the perfect rental is always a time consuming task, and finding one that allows pets can be even more difficult. Keep that in mind, and give yourself enough time to truly find one that fits your needs, and the needs of your beloved pet. Be sure to allot additional time for the search, and try not to be discouraged if it seems more difficult than your non-pet owning days. If you find yourself in a situation where you need to move by a set date, look into other options to extend your search time, such as using a short-term rental service or bunking with a generous friend.

Sweeten the Deal

While it is not a guaranteed solution, if you find yourself in love with a particular rental, the right pet owner and the promise of additional security deposits or pet rent, could be enough to sway a landlord that was on the fence about allowing certain breeds of pets, or pets at all.

In these instances, having a well-prepared resume and a reference from your current landlord is imperative, but you should also consider offering additional compensation so the landlord feels his investment will be fully protected.

Offer to pay a pet rent, or a higher security deposit, and offer to get renters’ insurance (if you don’t already have it) to protect from any liability a pet may cause. While this may be more cost up-front, the good news is, renters insurance is relatively inexpensive, and you can get your security deposit back as long as the unit remains in good condition throughout your tenancy.

Pet rent and pet-specific deposits however do not always boast the same claims; be sure you understand what would be refunded at the end of your tenancy, and what just becomes part of your monthly or move-in bill.

Author Bio: Brentnie is a writer and infographic master for the rental and property management industry. She loves to share tips and tricks to assist landlords and renters alike. To learn more about Brentnie and to discover more great tips for renters visit www.rentecdirect.com