5 Steps to Renting Pet Friendly Apartments

When I went to college in Charlotte, NC I rented an apartment. At first I went without my beloved mutt Mollie [originally from Michigan] but that turned out to be too difficult. So after a couple of months she joined me. The apartment I lived in was really nice about it. There was a $300 nonrefundable pet fee and $15 extra per month but I see the reason behind it and Mol is well worth the extra cash.

Since then we've moved back to Michigan. I live in a small town here and it was IMPOSSIBLE to find pet friendly housing. Everywhere I looked had NO PETS! Now, we only have one commercial apartment complex and everything else is privately owned. Thankfully, my mom and dad own a rental house. Once the previous renters vacated, I moved in. They know and love my dog so it's no problem.

I'm moving back to Charlotte next year and I've started researching apartments again. It seems that most places let you have dogs with the usual fee/deposit and extra rent.

It really bugs me that people sneak their animals in! I pay alot of money to be able to have my dog, why shouldn't other people? I only ever had one issue with my dog and another tenant. It was pouring buckets and she needed to poo, so I let her out and watched her from under the stairwell. I watched where she went and planned on picking it up in the AM. Before I got to it, my neighbor's show did. He was upset, which I understand [though he was a jerk who stared at females way too much!] and I'm usually really good about cleaning up her messes. I think it's important and people who don't give us all a bad name.

I have had a TERRIBLE time in Columbus Ohio finding a place that allows my Dog. Alot of rentals agencies do not list on their site if they allow pets or not. It was such a pain and stressful hearing that "we do not allow pets". So Discouraging trying to rent. I found pet friendly sites, Like stated in the article, have high deposits. Most of the time they are all large duplexes.

I recently just came across a newer site in the area. www.columbuspetrentals.com They list individual landlords, and I believe there is no cost involved. I wish there were more of these helpful resources when I move next!

**********************GREAT TIP******************** I am in the process of moving into an apartment, there is a 350 dollar deposit for pets, and 15 dollars extra each month for each pet. I have two cats, so it is 30 dollars each month plus the deposit. The lady I worked with at the apartment told me that if I got a doctor note saying that my pets were purchased for medical reasons or just emotional support/companionship, then they will waive all charges. So my doctor is writing the note and I am saving a ton of money. She said most people dont know that but the apartment has to waive it if you have a dr. note.!!!!

We moved in to a retirement coop about 6 months ago. we were told that we could have two pets. We have a cat and a dog. When the snow started melting, our neighbors noticed that we hadn't picked up all the poop and they complained to the owners. We got a notice that we needed to do something or futher action would be taken. We got a pooper scooper and have since been very loyal pooper scoopers. Now they want to charge everybody here a pet deposit. I stated that the pets that are already here should be grandfathered in, but any pets after this should pay the deposit. He was very snide (I feel) with me and said that he would not allow that to happen. Of course at that time I told him I felt intimidated and also had to leave the meeting. Later that evening I found out I was elected chairman of the "pet deposit task force". I'm going to my second meeting now to let them know I decline the nomination. I feel it was done out of spite anyway, but we'll see. My question is, do they have the right to impose the pet deposit after the fact?

we moved into our apt a year and a half ago. when we moved in, we didn't have a cat. however, i knew that we would soon - my boyfriend's 12 year old cat from childhood who used to live with his mom. but we didn't tell the land lord about this - we would an extra $20 added onto our rent! which to me, was bs. so we just moved him in. we are extremely clean people so it's not like he's making a huge mess the apartment will have to clean when we move out. anytime he has an accident, we shampoo the carpet. he's also declawed, (not my doing) so he's not scratching things up. not the most honest approach, but at least i feel a little better about the god awful squeaking ceiling that will never be fixed!

funny thing is, the landlady and maintenance people have been in our apt. usually we just put the cat in another room and shut the door - but we always forget to put his toys, food dishes, litter box, etc... away! oops! but they've never said a word.

I'm looking for a new place to live. I have an American Staffordshire Terrier. How can I find a place to rent that will allow this breed? He's a well behaved dog. But as soon as I say what breed he is, I get told they won't rent to me. How can I convince landlords that he's not a vicious dog?

I have a rott/ german shepard mix. She really dosent even look like a rotttweiller or german sheapard besides her markings. Her body type isint like either one. I have been trying to find an apartment and have not had any luck at all! It seems that all the ones who do allow big dogs have restrictions on breeds. Which apperantly my dog is an "agreesive breed." It is just very frustrating. If anyone can help me that would be wonderful! I live in the st louis area.

I have been living at an apartment complex for the last 5 years. I paid my pet deposit and now because 5 out of 100 people living there have not and their dogs are running around and pooping everywhere we have to get rid of our animals what are our rights as pet owners.

I recently got a complaint that I was not picking up after my dog's poo and I don't really know how to respond to it. Honestly, I don't stay at my apartment at night and my dog goes in the morning at my boyfriend's house, so when is it that I am not picking up after him? He DOES tinkle in the pet area but he does not poo there- and when he does I DO walk my butt all the way over to the poop can and throw it away. Should I explain that? I don't really have proof that I pick up his poo, but how would they have proof that I don't? There are at least 5 or 6 people in my building that have yorkies so... why assume it's my dog? They want to charge me a fine of $50 for "breaking the terms of my lease"...... which I will obviously not pay.... but how do I explain that it's not him?

i moved into an apartment that is pet friendly with a 200 payment in the lease it states the dog can not exceed 50 pounds at full adult hood so i went and bought a boxer puppy so when i went to the office to pay the 200 the landlady tells me i can't have him cause he is an aggressive breed and i have to have him fixed now i went back home and looked over my lease no where in the lease does it state anything about breeds you can and cannot have nor does it say about having the dog fixed. now my boxer is a male and i will use him him for breeding when the time is right but not at my home so since none of this is in the lease can they hold it to me so what can i do and what should i do please help

I just moved into a new apartment. I had to move quickly and I was going through a lot of tuff things in my life at the time. When I looked at the apartment, I asked if a cat was o.k. They said they needed to talk it over, and then they said "no". I still took the place just because of the pressure of needing the place. I was hoping I could hide my cat, but the problem is that the apartment is a 3 story victorian house. My apartment is on the 2nd story, and the landlord lives on the 3rd story. I know my cat will want to go into the windows, and there is no way I can part with my cat. Is there any way I can keep him out of the window without putting drapes up?

Help! My roommate just moved in with her spoiled dog who will run the show if I don't set some ground rules. What are the key training/ etiquette tips to keep the apartment very clean and odorless???? Help!

I have an issue I really need help with. I have an outdoor cat and my apartment complex is pet friendly but cats are supposed to stay indoors. When we moved here the apartment manager told us it was okay to let our cat outside that he would look a blind eye. Now we have this battle with a new neighbour that moved in because she is a smoker. We asked the manager if maintenance could seal up the ventilation so we would not have to breath in smoke. Instead they decided to do nothing about it and told her the smoking was bothering us and that she would have to smoke on her balcony. Now she is retaliating and complaining that our cat jumps down onto her balcony wall (we live on the second floor). She keeps complaining and so we were told that we could not let our cat out anymore unless he is on a leash. He is eleven years old, how are we going to keep him inside when he is used to going out? Now we are afraid she is going to try and get us evicted. Is there anything we can do?

I have two older cats, both females, who are fixed but not declawed. I cannot bring myself to take away their only defense if they should ever accidently get outside. We did have one other cat who slipped outside one day and was gone for two weeks. We eventually found her bedraggled and muddy, but okay.When you adopt a cat (or more correctly they adopt you), you pay the price of how they were created (claws) and you can correct certain things (litter boxes, etc) but I dont feel right about taking away their only defense should they need it. Cats also defend with their front claws as well as their teeth and back claws.

what do you do when your neighbor across that hall starts harassing you about the fact that you have two dog. Saying that she couldn't have hers so we shouldn't have ours; funny thing is the landlord says she didn't take care of her dog, it soiled everywhere. Anyway even though we have talked to the landlord and he has told her to mind her own business she still tries to find things to harass us about. she complains to us and the landlord even still about our dogs barking all day when we aren't home but neihter are the dogs, also she complains that we are too loud going up the stairwell to our apartment when just walking normally. And if it is the noise that bothers her than why isn't she complaining to the poeple who park in the parking lot and honk their horns after 11pm, and the bylaw states is quiet time between 11pm and 7am. would you just say she is bitter and jealous? and how should i deal with the situation when the landlord won't anymore?

My apartment has a private, attached yard. i was assured by my manager that my two dogs, who are on my lease and paid for through a pet deposit, could remain out there while I was at work. Well, the building was sold, a new manager came in, and she told me I couldn't leave them out there. The week before she had painters come in to do the back of the building that is within the confines of my yard and didn't notify me. The dogs got out and then I was the one who was blamed. Because I wanted to stay on good terms with her I followed her request.

My dogs use the yard when I am home and that's it. I allow them to go to the bathroom out there, cause who wouldn't? It's just dirt and a few squares of concrete.

Now she's issuing me a 3 day violation notice and I haven't done anything wrong. She's saying the dogs have soiled my apartment and the lobby rug. The apartment, admittedly yes, but the lobby rug, hell no! I paid a pet deposit, so that covers the carpet, no? And if I asked her if I should get my carpets cleaned and she said no, then why am I at fault?

I don't know what to do! How do I get her off my back? Please help!

I have lived in an apartment for approx 18 months in Spring Texas (MillCreek Apts) We have had at least 8-9 managers in this time frame. My issue is dog poop not being picked up by pet owners. There are several owners that bring the dogs to my front door to poop. I have complained to each and every manager and nothing changes. The most current manager says it is good fertilizer. What a moron. Many tenants have complained to the management company and nothing has changed. What is my next legal move on this matter and is this a violation of my lease on their behalf. I am so fed up and summer time you can barely walk to the parking lot with out passing out. Please someone give me some tips on how to handle this issue. Dog Poop Ally

We are moving into a new house and have a delima. My husband wants furniture that is less likely to attract cat fur. We have a lovely and mild tempered cat with one big issue. He sheds profusely and it attaches its fur to our present furniture. Is there a particular style or type of upholstery that is preferable with long haired cats?

I am moving into a new place and asked the manager what the pet policy was because i want to get a dog and had seen othere dogs in the building which he is aware of. He told me that I could not have a pet..Is it legal to let some tenants have pets and other not?

I had my dog for like 2 months now and out of no where the landlord that sees me walk the dog all the time said we can't keep the dog i have been crying my eyeballs out. She said you could pay extra for a cat but not a dog is that even right?

I am leaving an apt complex and I'm not sure if I need to 'deep clean' the carpets or is there a legal clause that once a pet owner moves out, the apt complex must replace the carpets. I am paying out the arse for my cat to live there not to mention the roomie decided not to care for the cream carpets we have. I know complexes get the carpet dirt cheap, so is there a legal clause I can throw in their face if they try and take my security deposit for my roomies messing habits?

I had been living in my apartment for a few months with my cat, who management was perfectly aware of. I had payed my extra cat deposit and included vaccination records before I moved in. After being there for a while, I received a notice saying that all cats must be spayed/neutered and declawed! Of corse all pets should be spayed/neutered but DECLAWED!!! I am sure that the management company was unaware of the damage this unnecessary procedure can do. It has a potential of causing more damage to people and property than if the cat had all claws. In time, declawed cats may begin to housesoil (and any cat lover knows how hard cat urine odors are to remove) and even become aggressive. It hurts the paws, after bones are removed at the first 'knuckle', to dig in litter so kitty would prefer carpet. Cat's first lines of defense are claws so instead of being able to scratch, they bite. This, in itself, could be a liability. I gave management some information on this form of mutilation, and even included some pictures. I had never heard another word about declawing from them again. If your management company tries to force this upon you, do some research and educate them. There are alternatives as well.