Pet Owners & Apartment Rentals: How to Find Apartments for Rent

Are you looking for a new apartment to rent?  Many renters look for family friendly establishments, but you may also be looking for a pet friendly rental.  Due to the costly fear of pet damage, many landlords do not allow tenants to have pets onsite.  With a little bit of research and possibly convincing, it is possible to find apartment rentals that allow pets.
To get started, you first want to look for apartment rentals.  You can find these listings a number of ways.  Start with an online search on classified and rental websites.  Then, check your local newspaper’s housing section.  Finally, keep your eyes and ears open, as some rentals are posted on community boards and others just have a for rent sign placed out front.
The easiest way to determine if pets are allowed is by reading the rental information in your local newspaper or an online listing.
If apartment rental listings do not state whether pets are allowed, it typically depends on how you are viewing this rental.  Landlords must pay fees to publish a rental listing in a newspaper; therefore, they tend to limit their costs with just the basic information.  Listings posted on free classified websites are free regardless.  In this case, someone who doesn’t state whether or not pets are allowed either does not care or didn’t take pet owning into consideration.  You have nothing to lose by calling to inquire.
It is recommended that pet owners looking for apartments to rent plan ahead.  As previously stated, not all landlords or property managers allow pets onsite.  That is why careful planning is advised.  If you intend to move in two months, start looking for an apartment now.  Typically, turnover is higher in larger apartment complexes where 20 plus people live, as opposed to a two family home with rental units.  As soon as you know you want to move, start getting yourself on the waiting lists of apartment complexes that allow pets.
It is also important to note that just because a landlord says no pets allowed, it doesn’t necessarily mean no pets allowed.  This is particularly true when dealing with an individual landlord, as opposed to a larger corporation.  If looking to rent an apartment in a multi-family home and if the landlord is local, consider calling for more information anyways.  Let them know you do have a pet, such as a small dog.  Offer to allow them to meet your pet or even offer to pay an additional pet security deposit.
There are no guarantees that offering an additional pet security deposit or letting the landlord meet your pet will result in an “okay, pets are allowed.”  However, it will not hurt to ask.  Many property owners have either had bad luck with a pet owner before or they knew someone who did.  This no pet rule is typically just a safeguard to protect their rental business.  If you provide reassurance and offer to be financially responsible for any damage that your animal does cause, a growing number of landlords will make an exception.