Apartment Renting With Pets

If you’re a pet owner who is considering a move to an apartment there are certain things you must be keep in mind. First, whether or not your pet will be accepted by most landlords depends primarily on the type, size and personality of your pet.

Dogs:

If you own a large dog, apartment living is probably not for you. Not only will accepting landlords be hard to find, but your dog will not be happy in the confined space of an apartment. A large dog needs room to exercise and play, neither of which is usually available in an apartment setting.

If you plan to move to an apartment, make sure your dog is one that will adapt easily to this change in environment. Usually smaller, lap dogs are the best choice. However, even smaller dogs can cause problems. 

If your dog barks or whines a lot you may well find yourself at odds with the landlord, as well as with other tenants. Many times your dog only causes a disturbance because it’s lonely or bored. If you’re gone during the day, you can sometimes alleviate these problems by hiring a pet walker to come in and give your dog attention and exercise.

You must also keep in mind that most apartment complexes have leash laws so you will have to accompany your dog each time it goes outside. Since most complexes don’t have areas where it’s safe for your dog to run free, this is as much a matter of your dog’s safety as it the protection of other tenants.

Cats:

Cats are the pets of choice for apartments. Most are not as socially oriented as dogs and are quite happy left on their own. As long as your cat has a nice spot to curl up and take a nap, space isn’t an issue. More than likely your pet is a house cat so frequent trips outside aren’t required.

But you must realize that some landlords do not accept cats any more willingly than they do dogs. Some have a strict “no pets” rule. If that’s the case, don’t consider renting there. If your pet is discovered you may be evicted and/or fined.

Other Pets:

“Pocket pets” such as fish, birds, and reptiles usually don’t pose a problem when it comes to renting. However, you should still check with your prospective landlord to make sure.

General Tips:

Landlords who do accept pets often require a pet deposit. This is intended to cover any damage your dog or cat does to the premises, as well as additional cleaning that may be necessary when you leave the apartment.

If you’re searching for apartments that accept pets, there are many places to go for help. You’ll find lots of websites and message boards dedicated to this subject. You can also enlist the help of a local realtor or relocation specialist who usually have lists of “pet-friendly” apartments. Just make sure you’re clear on the policy regarding pets before you sign any rental agreement.

If you take into account your pet’s needs, as well as those of your landlord, you’ll be much more likely to find an apartment that meets your needs.

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Apartment Selection Tips

When you decide to move, apartment selection can be a difficult task. Just how does one go about it properly? There are critical points that renters must bear in mind when they start looking. Let's take a look at some of the key factors that will make your apartment selection a far easier task to endure.

First, in the process of choosing your apartment, you will want to predetermine your monthly budget. If you determine your budget before you begin hunting for an apartment, you will be less apt to waste time viewing apartments that you cannot possibly afford. Therefore, with a budget set, you can begin scouting for apartments within your selected price range.

Next, while on the look out for various apartments, if you have children, you will want to review the various school districts. You can research almost any school district and see what a it has to offer your child by visiting the school district's website. Using your preferred search engine, simply search for the district you are considering and submit your search. Review the school's curriculum, the extra curricular activities and the like, to get an idea of how the school operates and what the school will expect from your child. There is no sense in renting an apartment you are not happy with unless you are also satisfied with the school district that your child will attend.

Third, when apartment scouting if you are an adult student or you have a child that will soon make plans to attend college, you may also want to consider checking out the nearby universities. You a may want to find out which are the closest to the apartments you are thinking about renting and you may also want to review the costs of tuition.

If you are looking to move into an apartment and you rely on public transportation to get from place to place, you might want to look into the type of that is readily available near any apartment you are considering. Are there buses that go by or near the apartment? Is there taxi service available? This is particularly important if you rely solely on public modes of transportation to get around.

When looking to rent a new apartment, you will also want to have an in depth discussion with the property owner. Advertisements that announce available apartments may not reveal the whole story when it comes to leasing an apartment because sadly, advertisement space is restricted. Will you be required to pay additional fees for trash removal? What about wate r- is there a fee you will have to pay that is separate from the rent for water usage? Are the utilities included? Can you get cable television access? What about high-speed Internet? All of these questions can be addressed by the property owner and are questions you should not hesitate to ask. Ultimately, your happiness with a location will depend upon what the site has to offer you in the way of services and amenities.

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