Landlords loosen pet policies during recession

Landlords loosen pet policies during recession


Tami Pickering lives in an apartment in Seattle with her 5-year-old Great Dane, Bella. Pickering, who works out of her home, considers herself lucky: "The neighbors all have dogs and they're very supportive."

By J.W. ELPHINSTONE

Apartment owners are animal lovers these days.

Apartments.com reported more landlords have loosened their pet policies over the past 18 months. The online apartment listing firm says landlords are responding to the spike in demand from renters searching for pet-friendly digs.

Anecdotal evidence suggests that some renters are homeowners displaced by foreclosures who have taken their pets with them, while others are longtime renters with pets looking to upgrade during a soft market.

"There are more people who inquire who have pets," said Camille Stuteville, a property manager at Crown Hill Apartments in Seattle's Ballard neighborhood.

She has noticed an uptick in applicants with pets.

"I think it's market-driven," Stuteville added.

Job losses and pay cuts have also forced more renters to double up and roommates to share space with a four-legged roommate.

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/realestate/2009389573_rentwithpets28.html

:hi:

first place. Don't let your pet tear up the place, destroy the carpet, soil the floors/carpet, or destroy the screens (cats do this & if yours does, make the effort to replace the screening before you move). Yes, landlords can fine you, but they'd rather not have the damage in the first place.

And "pet rent" should be outlawed.

I've known pet lovers to outlaw pets - because some renters are extremely irresponsible. This irresponsibility makes it harder on all renters with pets.

It's kinda silly, because her Toy Fox Terrier/Bichon Frise mix is a calm, housebroken, non-chewing, quiet 13-pound dog (though disturbingly racist...she barks at anybody with dark skin)...but I understand that not all dogs are as apartment-friendly.

:hi:

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/realestate/2009389573_rentwithpets28.html

:)

This is quite hopeful. :hi:

here in NC i had no problem finding an apartment that took pets, but in LA, nope.

cats and small dogs. You sometimes have to look around a little. Other neighborhoods maybe are tougher......

:-)

to being a renter (divorce, move across country)I was very grateful to find an apartment whose landlord was willing to let me have all three of my cats with me. It helped a great deal that the floors throughout the entire apartment were tile.

Recently I became a homeowner again, and before I moved into my new place I replaced cheap wood laminate with tile. I would not want to have carpet and cats (or dogs) ever again.

That's just me.

Both with the rental and now with my own place.

I'm not sure I'd ever have carpet again. I will always go with tile or good hardwood if I possibly can. Even if I have no companion animals at all.

I lived in a complex once that allowed dogs. I got sick of the barking at all hours and owners who would not clean up their dog's shits.

Sorry dog owners and flame away.