Pet Care Articles

More than 70 percent of apartment renters reported owning pets, with cats and dogs as the most popular types, according to a survey.

Despite the high pet ownership numbers, the survey by Apartments.com found that it may still be hard for renters to find a pet-friendly apartment.

Nearly two-thirds of pet-owners in 2014 reported having some difficulty finding an apartment that allows pets, but the rental listing website said that may be changing.

“We see the rental industry moving toward accommodating the needs of this important and growing segment of renters,” Tammy Kotula, spokesperson for Apartments.com, said in a statement.

The survey found that apartment building's pet policies played a major role in the decision about where to rent for nearly nine out of 10 pet owners.

Seventy percent of pet owners said their choice of where to rent was influenced by nearby pet amenities, such as parks, veterinary facilities and pet stores.

“We believe these trends may increase demand for new apartment construction that includes innovative pet-friendly spaces, amenities and policies,” said Brad Long, president of Apartments.com.

In downtown Los Angeles, the newly opened Avant South Park Apartments is hoping to appeal to dog owners with amenities such as a “bark park” and a dog grooming station. It also has a dog walker and groomer on site.

“It’s not like a make-or-break deal,” said Adam Schaller, a leasing agent at the building, which held its grand opening at the end of June. “It’s just an extra perk.”

Schaller said a little under half of the apartments had been leased so far and around 35% are occupied. He estimated that about one-quarter of the residents own pets.

Pet owners at Avant pay a deposit and monthly fee per pet, Schaller said, which the survey found was not unusual. Nearly 80% of respondents said they were required to pay a deposit -- up from about 60% in 2013 -- and about a third said they had to pay monthly fees.

The majority of pet owners paid more than $200 annually in deposits and fees, the survey found. But renters split on whether these charges made them less likely to rent from a particular property, with slightly more than half, or 53%, saying it would.

Apartment.com's survey included more than 3,000 apartment renters and was conducted by email with users who had visited the site within the prior six months. The sample did not factor in age, gender, income or city.