Pets becoming deal-breakers for more renters

Seventy-five percent of renters say they own pets, yet many are not able to find enough pet-friendly rental options, a new survey of 1,100 renters by Apartments.com shows.

Last year, only 43 percent of renters said they owned pets.

More than 60 percent of survey respondents say they’ve struggled to find pet-friendly rental options. Those who were able to find pet-friendly options said they had to pay a one-time pet deposit or pricey monthly fees.

“Clearly, pets are a deal-breaker for many, and apartment buildings with more flexible pet policies will be the ones to attract this growing group of pet-owning renters-and possibly keep them for a longer period of time,” said Tammy Kotula, a spokesperson for Apartments.com.

“Nearly all pet owners surveyed said pet policies play a major role in their decision of where to live.”