Bringing Dogs Along When Renting a Home

It is quite a challenge for renters who have a dog or more than one dog if they rent an apartment or a house. Finding a living situation which is acceptable to them and also willing to accept their pets is one of the primary challenges. As many rental properties do not allow dogs at all, this can be difficult. Certain restrictions may be placed by those who do allow animals on the property such as restrictions on their size and breed of dog which may reside on the property.

Finding an Acceptable Living Situation

To find an acceptable living situation is the first step in renting with dogs. The first question to be asked should be whether or not dogs are allowed to live on the property, for those who wish to rent with dogs. It can save the renter a great deal of time so it is important. Otherwise, the renter may have to invest a great deal of time learning more about the property or even undergoing a credit check only to find out pet are not permitted.

Finding a rental situation which allows dogs is not the end of the search for some dog owners. Confirm the type of dog he owns whether will be allowed to live on the property or not also should be done. As some apartment complexes place limitations on the size of the dog and also prohibit certain breeds, this may include both the size of the dog as well as the breed. Especially for those who own large or commonly banned breeds, confirming these facts early in the search for an apartment can be a tremendous time savings.

The surrounding area when selecting a rental property should also be considered by renters. In which there is an adequate location to walk and exercise the dogs is an ideal location. While areas which do not have a location to walk a dog may be problematic, areas with large grassy areas may be ideal.

Read Contracts Carefully

Before making a decision to rent a particular property, renters who have dogs should read their contract carefully. Many landlords may impose restrictions on renters who own dogs, that’s why reading contract carefully is essential. An additional security deposit for the renter, specific cleaning methods on the carpets after the renter vacates the apartment and holding the renter responsible if the dog engages in nuisance barking are some restrictions that may be included but not limited to those. If the apartments are located close together and even share a common wall, nuisance barking can be a problem. Nuisance barking can be a cause for eviction in some situations, renters should be aware of that. Renters who own dogs should take the time to familiarize themselves with the rental contract for these reasons.

Take Care of Your Rental Property

Finally, additional efforts to maintain their apartment may have to be taken by renters who have dogs. More diligent cleaning, especially of the carpets, is included. To minimize the possibility of permanent staining and odors, renters with dogs should respond quickly to accidents in the house. Renters should address the accident immediately as well as make every effort to clean the affected area completely.

Especially if their dog is a heavy shedder, renters should also vacuum regularly. This will help to minimize the amount of cleaning required when the renter vacates the property and keep the environment cleaner. Preventing hair from being embedded into the carpet so deeply that it is difficult to remove can be done by regularly vacuuming.

Lastly, while on walks, renters with dogs should take care to pick up after their dogs and while in common areas, they should keep their dogs leashed. Regarding picking up after dogs, many cities have leash laws. Renters should follow these policies as a courtesy to their neighbors even if these laws are not in effect. In addition, keeping dogs on leashes during walks to prevent dogs from running into the street can help ensuring their safety.