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"Dogs are welcome in this apartment. I never had a dog that smoked in bed and set fire to the building. I never had a dog who played music or the TV too loudly. I never had a dog get drunk and knock holes in the walls. So if your dog can vouch for you, you're welcome too."
Update: Pet fees at apartments now range from flat fees of $20 to $700, and monthly surcharges from $6 to $25. The most often quoted monthly charge for a pet is $15. The average up-front fee is about $225, but the most often quoted fee is $100. High fees are usually for large dogs.
There were 102 million occupied households in the U.S. in 1998 and 80% of them house pets. The government reports that there were 212 million pets; 59 million domestic cats, 53 million dogs, 80 million reptiles, plus birds and assorted small mammals. That means there were at least 2 pets per household and the occasional mouse or rat. ( Landlords only think they do not allow pets.)
More than half of all homeowners have pets, the Humane Society of the United States, reports that some 49.4 percent of U.S. renters have pets. Yet only five per cent of rental housing anywhere allows animals. That means that tenants are lying to landlords about having pets when they move in, or acquiring a pet in violation of the lease agreement later. Perhaps it happens because of a seemingly intractable attitude by landlords that pets cost them money so they refuse to even discuss the issue.
Either way, landlords and tenants inevitably get into hassles that poison their relationship and force the tenant to get rid of the pet. The results eventually show up in animal shelters all over the world, where an estimated 25% of surrendered animals are reluctantly taken when their owners cannot find affordable rental housing that will allow tenants to keep their pets. That's millions of animals a year, and only a small percentage of the pets ever get selected for a new home in time to save their lives.
Every pet owner tenant faces an almost impossible task in finding rental accommodations that will accept their beloved pet, but seniors are especially vulnerable. When older folks are forced to move into smaller, multi-unit housing, perhaps after the death of their spouse, many learn that their cat or dog must be given up too. So, in addition to the depressing human loss, they face additional loneliness with out the benefit of a beloved pet's companionship. Some folks become angry, some are grief-stricken, and most want and need someone to do something about their crises. Seniors vote, so politicians are paying attention
The benefits of pet ownership to physical and emotional health in people has been well researched and documented. Recent studies have concluded that pets help young children with learning language skills and accepting responsibility. Pets even contribute to the development of self esteem. Older adults are much less likely to suffer depression, and have fewer doctors' visits, if they share their lives with an animal. Heart surgery patients with pets recover more quickly that those without. In fact, some life insurance companies now offer discounts to older policy holders with pets, because statistics show that they live longer.
As a result, legislation is in place in the U.S. that allows seniors in federally funded housing to have pets. A HUD administrative judge ruled in November 96 (HUD vs. Dutra, No HUDALJ 90-93-1753-8 (HUD Offices of Admin. Law Judges 11/12/96)) that the managers of a California apartment community with a no pets policy violated the Fair Housing Act by attempting to evict a disabled tenant because he had a cat. The resident's physician said the cat served a therapeutic purpose and therefore, in the eyes of the judge, the apartment manager's failed to make a "reasonable accommodation".
But property owners and managers have legitimate concerns about pets, which have caused their seemingly blanket policy. Almost every landlord has a horror story about pet odor and damage, or the terrorizing of other tenants. Unfortunately, it is the irresponsible actions of the few that everyone talks about and that helps create hardship for the responsible majority. But it does not make economic, or any other kind of sense, to automatically deny the benefits of pet ownership to people just because they rent their homes. Landlords and tenants can learn to solve the problems together. If they don't, government might.
A variety of approaches have been taken to address pet issues in rental housing. For example, inventive landlords sometimes put plastic sheeting between the carpet and pad so that pet accidents can't penetrate into the pad and flooring. Then urine can be removed and carpeting deodorized with just normal shampooing, otherwise steam cleaning to remove odor is a waste of money and effort. A proven effective way is to combat the odor directly with the use of enzymes that actually eat the odor causing residue from pet urine. One such product is called "Ryter's ODOR MUTE." it is a powder that is mixed with warm water and sprayed on the carpet so that it soaks through to the pad. It takes a few days, but usually works. Your pet store will probably stock it. There are also good new solutions to dealing with persistent pet odor discussed on our Rentals Stink page.
Basically, it comes down to how badly all the parties want solutions. There are several very good reasons for landlords to come up with answers. For one, it may be just a question of time before some government do-gooders learn how many votes might be bought by legislation that forces pets on rental housing, particularly from likely voters among seniors.
We believe there are much better solutions. For example: written Pet Agreements. Local Humane Societies can help educate landlords and tenants about each others' needs, and rental housing associations can do informational meetings on the subject. You should also use a Pet Screening Checklist
Also see: Pet Pages & Links | Tenant Pet Tips | Pets Can be Valuable, particularly large dogs. | Rentals Stink | Need to eliminate cat odor?
See: How tenants keep a pet when a lease says: "No Pets" |