Many people believe that a furry companion is a much better option than a human one because their love for you is unconditional and non-judgmental. They also do wonders in removing any traces of loneliness that you may experience while living on your own. The search for a room for rent that’s fit for your pet takes time and is challenging, owing to restrictions posed by most landlords. That being said, once you find a perfect pet-friendly room for rent, all the efforts and time seem worth it.
While many landlords have stringent guidelines against furry pets or pets in general, about 55 percent of them do permit them, so all is not lost! If you’re looking to find a pet-friendly room for rent but are unsure of the next steps, we’ve collated eight brilliant tips to make the search process simpler for you:
1. Look for pet-friendly rooms in the ads posted by landlords
When looking for pet-friendly homes, focus on those ads that specifically mention allowing pets. It’s generally stated up-front in a property listing, so it shouldn’t be a problem to find.
2. Request the landlord to reconsider
While searching for a pet-friendly home, you may come across some landlords who may be forthcoming to discuss their pet policy with you in detail. Ask questions and elicit answers from them about their specific issues concerning keeping a pet. Empathize with them and address their concerns by letting them know what you do or would do to deal with problems such as infestations such as fleas and ticks, property destruction, behavioral issues including barking and howling, and so on.
3. Put together a pet resume
To avoid any misunderstanding, let’s be clear that a ‘pet resume’ typically means any kind of documentation related to your pet that can further your cause. For instance, here are a few critical documents that you might consider collating:
- A reference letter from your current landlord corroborating that you’re an accountable pet owner.
- Proof on paper that your dog has finished a training class or your puppy has been signed up for one.
- A letter from your vet stating that you’ve fulfilled all your responsibilities toward your dog, medically speaking. Additional documentation stating that your pet’s been spayed or neutered or has been vaccinated against rabies will add weight to your case.
4. Be open to paying extra fees or deposits
Do be aware of the differences between a pet deposit and a pet fee. A pet deposit is what you need to pay as part of your security deposit and which you’ll get back when you vacate the premises after the end of your lease. On the other hand, a pet fee isn’t refundable. It’s paid as a consolidated amount at one go or monthly as additional charges put forward by the landlord to cover the expenses of any destruction caused by your pet. Or the money might even be used for cleaning purposes once you move out of the room. Also, pet deposits are refundable, so if there aren’t any major issues with your pet during your stay, you’ll get it back. Should the landlord be uptight about allowing you to move in with your pet, offering a pet deposit might work in your favor.
5. Set up a meeting with your pet and your landlord
If your landlord is uncomfortable allowing your pet into your room for rent, set up a meeting between them. Once your landlord gets to see for real what they had been visualizing all this while, they’ll be more at ease about what to expect. But before you take your dog along with you, ensure that you check with your landlord whether it’s okay as there may be restrictions on breeds in your search for a pet-friendly home.
6. Consider getting renter’s insurance as your landlord might ask for it
Tenants usually buy renter’s insurance to protect themselves financially, against any damage caused by burglary, injury, or property damage. It’s likely to include liability protection in case your pet happens to harm someone. In certain instances, landlords might indicate a desire for you to secure renter’s insurance to meet the guidelines highlighted in the rental agreement.
7. Ensure everything is documented
If your landlord finally agrees to permit you and your pet to live in the room for rent, you need to make sure that you have everything in black and white. The sums you need to pay towards your pet deposit and additional pet fees need to be clearly mentioned in the lease agreement. Revise the document with utmost caution and get your landlord to add their initials against any other modifications to the contract before you both sign it. Once the contract is signed, no further changes can be made to it without both of you agreeing to it.
8. Make sure your pet’s well-behaved
Once the entire process is over and you start living in your pet-friendly home, you need to ensure that you live up to the terms of the lease. Spend as much time as you can make with your pet and train them to exhibit the kind of behaviors that are appropriate in a rental space. For dogs, that includes no unnecessary barking or howling, while for cats, it includes no excessive scratching or problems with the litter box.
While finding a pet-friendly home needs more time, research, and negotiations, it’s not impossible to get one that fits your requirements. As mentioned earlier, it’s imperative to focus on rentals that categorically state that pets are permissible and be present with the essential documentation or proof. For those ads that don’t mention pets, consider your powers of persuasion to change your prospective landlord’s mind.
