SEATTLE NEWS ARCHIVES & FEATURES
‘No Pets’ could be deal breaker for renters
Aug 13, 2012, 8:47 AM | Updated: Mar 4, 2016, 5:55 am
Renters are increasingly saying that if a rental unit doesn't allow a pet, they don't want it. (AP Photo/file)
(AP Photo/file)
Renters are increasingly saying that if a rental unit doesn’t allow a pet, they don’t want it.
A recent survey by Apartments.com found that 43 percent of those surveyed say they are current pet owners and more than a quarter say they plan to get a pet within the next year. Even among those who aren’t pet owners, 34 percent still say they want to have the option and enjoy living in a pet-friendly building.
“Renters have made it clear that not accommodating a pet could be a deal breaker in their apartment search, and many apartment managers have taken this feedback into consideration and adjusted pet policies,” says Tammy Kotula, a spokeswoman with Apartments.com.
Only 20 percent of non-pet owning renters say they avoid buildings that allow pets.
The most popular pets renters own, according to the survey are: a small dog under 25 pounds (35.5 percent); a cat (24.2 percent), a large dog that weighs more than 50 pounds (13.6 percent), and a medium dog that weighs between 26 to 50 pounds (11 percent).