Pros and Cons of Pet Living in Apartment

Pros and Cons of Pet Living in Apartment

Landlords generally are free to decide whether or not they will allow their tenants to have a pet in their apartment.

It's understandable that landlords worry if they are going to allow a pet or not in their property because pets can potentially create damage to the property and might disturb neighbors. But it is also essential for landlords to see that most pet owners are courteous of their rental property and ensures that their pet is not a nuisance. 

In this article, we will share the cons and pros of allowing a pet in your rental property.

PROS

Health Benefits

Owning a pet certainly helps improves the quality of life by giving us unconditional love and companionship. Lots of research studies have shown that it gives a lot of benefits and positive impact on human health, such as: walking a dog improves physical fitness; there can also be social benefits because you will meet some people along the way, lower blood pressure, lower risk of heart disease, helps child emotional development, help people with depression.

Companionship

Pets can be companions like dogs and cats. Companion pets give comfort and fun not only to kids but to the elderly as well. It helps lessen the feeling of loneliness in all ages when their favorite pet is around. I have watched and read many stories about dogs that protect their owners in different ways and I truly believe that they are true. But remember to check first what kind of pet and breed you are allowed to stay with you in the apartment.

Longer Tenancy

Many pet owners prefer to stay longer because they think that it will be difficult for them to look for an apartment that will accept their tenancy with pets along with them. That is why they stay longer in the apartment because they feel that their pets are welcome.

CONS

Pet ownership can be an issue if you are renting an apartment

There are some landlords who don’t allow a pet in their rental property in a reasonable matter like for example they are concerned about property damage, noise, safety, cleanliness, conflict among tenants and some liability risk.

In this case, you may consider looking for a pet-friendly apartment. For some landlords who will allow tenants to keep their pets in the apartment, try getting pet agreement or pet policy. It is used between a landlord and tenant, allowing the tenant to keep certain pets under some conditions. Before signing a lease, try to find out if the apartment you are planning to rent has a pet policy and is compliant with the kind of pet you are planning to have so that tenants agree to adhere to local ordinances, including leash and licensing requirements.

Responsibility

Owning a pet requires time, energy and money. It doesn’t matter what kind of pet you own, whether it be a fish, guinea pig, bird, dog or cat, all pets come with a big responsibility. Love and respect your pet, and it will love and trust you. So be sure it’s a decision you are comfortably committed to doing.

Costs

Some apartment complexes may charge an extra fee for allowing pets that you will include in the apartment. You may want to check first the lease agreement to find out if there are pet deposits or monthly fees and how much the fee would cost. Some landlords may ask for a larger security deposit instead of breaking it down into two separate charges.