Moving to a new home with your furry friend can be rewarding. However, getting the approval of your landlord for a pet can be tricky. Housing costs continue to rise, and rental units are becoming more competitive.
As a result, tenants who move in with pets have to deal with multiple challenges. Pet fees, deposits, and breed and size restrictions are to name a few. Continue reading below to get to know a few useful tips that you can follow to ensure success when submitting your pet application.
By following these tips, you will have a better chance of approval from the landlord.
Create a Pet Resume
Most rentals will require a pet screening during your rental application. One of the best ways to introduce your pet to a prospective landlord is to create a “pet resume” that highlights your furry friend in the best possible light.
Much like a human resume aims to impress potential employers, a pet resume allows you to showcase why your pet would make a great tenant.
Keep it Short
Craft the perfect one-page pet resume focused on positive traits, obedience, and training. Include basic information such as your pet’s name, age, breed, weight, and physical description. Make sure to feature a professional photo of your well-groomed pet as the header to put your pet’s best paw forward right away.
Dedicate a section to obedience training and credentials. List any formal pet training programs completed or certifications earned, like a Canine Good Citizen certificate from the AKC or a pet therapy qualification.
If your pet knows basic commands, include a list demonstrating how well-trained they are. Consider any special skills like playing dead, dancing, jumping rope, or playing basketball. The more unique abilities you can highlight, the more intriguing your pet will seem.
Attach Proof
Provide veterinary records showcasing how well your pet is cared for. List information like current vaccinations, microchip details, heartworm preventative schedule, and any regular medications or dietary needs. This verifies that your pet poses minimal health risks while reassuring landlords about responsible pet ownership.
Lastly, include references from credible sources like past landlords, neighbors, dog walkers, groomers, or veterinarians. Positive endorsements from professionals verifying that your pet is well-behaved with no history of disturbances make for a very strong case.
Following this pet resume template ensures all the essential information for obtaining landlord approval is covered concisely on a single page that builds a compelling story about your treasured, well-trained pet!
Address Potential Concerns on Your Pet
While pet owners reap abundant rewards from furry companionship, landlords may view animals as noisy, messy, or destructive. Bay Property Management Group Atlanta encourages tenants to discuss plans to minimize potential damage to your pet. It’s essential to get ahead of common landlord concerns when applying to bring your pet home.
Be Ready to Discuss Breed Restrictions
If certain dog breeds with perceived aggression or large sizes are banned in your rental, be prepared to provide evidence countering stereotypes about your pet’s breed with positive traits and temperament test results.
Consider obtaining renter’s insurance covering dog bites ahead of time to offer the landlord additional financial protection. For cats, you may need to discuss strategies for preventing or resolving furniture scratching.
Pet Deposits and Fees
One of the landlords’ biggest worries is property damage, so prepare to pay substantial fees. Standard pet fees range from $200-500 to cover any costs from scratched floors to soiled carpets.
Be ready to put down 2-3 months’ rent as a security deposit solely for your pet’s actions. Estimate the first and last month’s rent plus pet fees and deposits to ensure you budget adequately.
Expect to pay monthly pet rent from $15-100 on top of your usual rent. Keeping these extra costs low starts with choosing apartment complexes with preexisting pet policies over privately owned condos.
Multi-pet households should brace for steeper total fees. If costs become cumbersome, offer to re-home companion animals not fully under your care to lighten the financial obligations presented to landlords.
Review all documentation like vet records, training certificates, and reference letters supporting your pet’s outstanding behavior. Verbally offer to sign any pet agreements and repeatedly reinforce your responsible pet ownership. Alleviating financial risks and destructive behavior concerns can help landlords finally say yes to your furry friend.
Highlight Responsible Pet Ownership
The key to convincing landlords to approve your pet is demonstrating you are a responsible pet owner who prioritizes training and open communication.
Obedience Training for Your Pet
Enrolling your dog in obedience classes like sit, stay, come, heel, and not jumping up shows commitment to discipline and manners. Consider advanced skills like therapy training for the most obedience credentials. For cats, provide scratching posts and vertical scratching surfaces to protect furniture.
Address Potential Behavioral Issues
Be honest about any problematic behaviors like excessive barking, scratching, or house soiling, and have an action plan to address them. Explain how you will minimize noise with anti-barking devices or unlearn inappropriate scratching with sibling cats.
Prevent inappropriate elimination by keeping litter boxes clean and using calming pheromone plugins. Reassure landlords you have relationships with trainers and veterinary behaviorists to curb issues before they arise.
An obedient, well-adjusted pet starts by meeting its physical and mental stimulation needs. Showcase walking, playtime, and enrichment schedules to prove you regularly invest time exercising your dog’s body and mind.
For cats, discuss providing puzzle toys to emulate hunting behaviors. The more fulfilled your pet’s needs are, the less likely boredom becomes destructive.
Maintain Open Communications with Landlord
Promise landlords open communication about your pet with immediate notification if any incidents occur. Providing your vet’s contact for confirmation you responsibly address medical issues also builds trust.
Final Words
Follow these tips, and you will be able to convince the landlord that you will be a responsible tenant with pets.
Overall, concrete plans preventing disruptions, affirming you meet your pet’s needs, and welcoming collaboration with landlords paint you as a dream tenant who uplifts their rental. A thoughtful pet application emphasizing accountability and obedience is key to approval.
Leave a Comment