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Oftentimes, our furry friends make the best roommates. But renting with pets can be challenging. Some apartments don’t allow pets, and pet deposits can be expensive.
Ask the right questions before you move, however, and you can be sure to find a pet-friendly apartment.
Are pets allowed?
Question one in your pet-friendly research is probably the most important: Does your prospective apartment community allow pets?
If so, are there restrictions on species, size or breeds? Before you fill out an application for an apartment, be honest with your future landlord or apartment manager and tell them about your pet. Also, ask about the amount and the conditions of the pet deposit.
Is this a pet-friendly rental?
An environment that welcomes pets in apartments is not only tolerant of them, but also offers structural aspects that work for four-legged residents. Stairs, for instance, can be hard for some dogs to climb, especially small or older ones; a ground-floor unit might be preferable. Hardwood floors look great and make clean-up easier, but carpet is softer on dog and cat paws and dampens the sound if you have downstairs neighbors.
Some apartment communities offer a dog-walking area and clean-up stations, so tour the facilities to check for yourself. Find out if there are dog parks nearby or if there is a doggy daycare in the area in case your dog needs some extra attention during the day. Also, get a feel from your landlord for the number of pets in the apartment community and for other residents’ tolerance level when it comes to pets.
Renting with pets needn’t be fraught with stress and secrecy. Get the right details during your apartment search for a pet-friendly rental to share with your furry, feathered or scaled companion. If you are up front with your apartment manager and ask the right questions, you will have a better chance of finding a new apartment in which both you and your pet can be happy.
