We love our animals. Pets are bona fide, highly valued members of the family — sometimes more valued than the human members — but not all rental building landlords feel so warm and fuzzy about four-legged tenants. Despite the fact that an estimated 72 percent of renters have pets, many landlords simply don’t allow dogs or cats. And that puts animal lovers in a pickle over how to find pet-friendly apartments.
Where can you turn to find places that lay out the welcome mat for creatures great and small? These steps will point you in the right direction.
How to present your pets to landlords
Many management companies are wary of welcoming pets due to the potential that tenants will gripe about noise, property damage, and more. But not your pet, right? If your dog or cat is a model of animal behavior, ease your landlord’s anxiety with a positive introduction:
- Provide letters of reference from past landlords detailing how you’re a responsible pet owner. Yes, we’re serious.
- If you have a dog, show that your pup has proven its good behavior with training classes and the Canine Good Citizen evaluation.
- Ask your veterinarian to write a letter on your behalf — and include documentation that your pet has been vaccinated appropriately and receives regular wellness checks.
- Craft a resume for your pet, complete with photo, certifications, explanation of the arrangements made to care for your pet while you’re at work, and a personal story. And yeah, we’re still serious.
Pony up some extra money
Resourceful renters can buy their own renter’s insurance policies that cover their dogs to help open doors for their well-behaved pets.
Here are other ways pet owners can grease the wheels:
- Offer to pay an extra security deposit to compensate for any damage your furry friend may make to the property.
- Be prepared to pay a pet fee, typically between $200 and $500, or a refundable pet deposit (in addition to your security deposit) upon lease signing.
- Brace yourself for a possible recurring monthly pet rent charge from property managers to cover cleaning. Average amount? Anywhere from $50 to $100.
Read the fine print
If a lease doesn’t mention pets, it’s generally understood that you’re allowed to have them. But if you want to avoid drama and potential nightmares down the road, you should ask for clarification in writing.
And never sign a lease that specifies “no pets allowed,” even if the landlord or other neighbors tell you it’s totally OK. It would mean you’re violating your lease, which could come back and cause trouble for you down the road.
This article originally appeared on realtor.com