Wanting a Pet is Normal
It may be hard to tell this reading through rental listings on Zillow, but having a pet is exceedingly normal. In fact, 67% of US households own a pet. Having a pet in a rental unit does have a few other considerations, such as potential to damage the property and forfeit a security deposit. More than that, you need to make considerations for the animal, such as: Do I need access to a wide open area or dog park?
Here are some of the best pets for renters:
- Small Dogs
- Yorkshire Terrier (AKA “Yorkies”)
- Non-Aggressive
- Low Shedding
- Easily Trained
- OK in small spaces
- Can be left alone without barking
- Havanese
- Smart
- Highly Trainable
- OK with strangers & other pets.
- Ok in small spaces
- Medium exercise needs.
- Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
- Medium exercise needs.
- Highly playful & affectionate.
- Friendly to other dogs, pets, & strangers
- Easy to train – Easy to groom
- Can be left alone without barking.
- Yorkshire Terrier (AKA “Yorkies”)
Pro Tip: Dog parks can be great, but not having one close by shouldn’t be a deal breaker. Many small and medium sized dogs do just fine as long as they can be walked on a leash at least once or twice a day.
- Guinea Pigs
- Excellent apartment pets.
- 4-8 year life span.
- Good for first-time pet owners.
- Completely contained pet space
- Requires exercise, but not lots of space.
Here are some unique pets for renters:
- Bearded Dragons
- Hibernates regularly for weeks at a time.
- Requires warmth (heat lamp)
- Good for first-time pet owners
- Completely contained pet space
- Requires little exercise.
- One of the least likely pets to cause damage.
- Sugar Gliders (for experienced pet owners only!)
- Probably will require a pet deposit.
- You should have a same-sex pair, otherwise the animal’s health may suffer.
- Only allowed at some rentals.
- Best for apartments or townhomes with lofted ceilings.
- Need lots of space & daily out-of-cage workouts.
- Get a young sugar glider – older ones can be territorial.
- Leopard Geckos
- Usually not a concern for landlords.
- Extremely low-maintenance.
- May require periodic sourcing & feeding of small crickets.
- Can be left along for extended periods.
- Good for first-time pet owners.
Tips for Pets in Rentals
Fish didn’t make our list here, because many landlords see large volumes of water a big hazard. Some, however, will allow small aquariums for a single goldfish, for example. The magic number seems to be that tanks that are 5 gallons or larger pose a threat.
Depending on which pet you are planning to have as a roommate, you may want to consider talking with your landlord about any potential paperwork or deposits. Especially if the pet is a larger animal like a dog or cat. Typically, small lizards like geckos pose little threat to the real estate.
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