The below topic is discussed in greater depth
on our members' Pets Can Be Valuable page.

Landlords with a pet friendly policy have fewer vacancies a nd can charge higher rents

Property owners and managers have discovered the bottom line value of offering to accept pets, particularly large dogs.
      Many landlords and apartment communities don't allow pets at all, and if they do, they ban large dogs by setting a 20-pound weight limit.
      Veterinarians and other animal care professionals agree that many larger dogs cause less damage and do better in apartments than some smaller dogs, such as terriers and poodles.

Prohibit problem pets, not large dogs.

      Some property owners and managers managers have learned to ban certain breeds that from their experience are the most likely to cause problems.
      Fair housing laws protect tenant classes, but landlords can still discriminate based on the breed of a dog or type of pet.

Execute a Pet Agreement, Charge Tenants a Pet Deposit and Additional Pet Rent

      To cover the extra costs associated with allowing pets, most professional property managers execute a pet agreement . The agreement covers many of the possible problems and calls for a pet deposit and additional monthly rent. See a sample in the RHOL Forms Web .

      Pet fees at apartments now range from flat fees of $20 to $700, and monthly surcharges from $6 to $25. The most often quoted monthly charge for a pet is $15. The average up-front fee is about $225, but the most often quoted fee is $100. High fees are usually for large dogs.

The above topic is discussed in greater depth
on our members' Pets Can Be Valuable page.

Also see: Pet Pages & Links |  Tenant Pet Tips | Pets Can be Valuable, particularly large dogs. | Rentals Stink  | Need to eliminate cat odor?

See: How tenants keep a pet when a lease says: "No Pets"