Reducing Barriers to Pet-Inclusive Housing
GET THE FACTS.
GET INSPIRED.
Can providing just a pet deposit actually make a difference?
Absolutely!
“While some of the reasons people re-home their pets are quite complex and difficult to change, many reasons given by the respondents in this study might have been easily resolved through affordable, accessible veterinary care, pet-friendly housing and access to other supplies and resources,” said Dr. Emily Weiss, vice president of research and development for the ASPCA.
How much is a typical pet deposit
or fee?
"Tenants pay an average of $864 in deposits and $600 a year in extra rent."
Average pet deposit in rental listings
$450
Average pet fee
$250
Average pet rent per month (often per pet)
$45
Salt Lake City rental listings March 2024 Zillow.com
How can covering pet deposits and fees help animal shelters?
Easing restriction on pet friendly housing saves lives. Restrictions on pets in rental housing is suppressing the number of homes available for pets.
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33% of pet owning residents say they would get another pet if restrictions on their rental housing were lifted.
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35% of residents without pets would get a pet if restrictions were lifted.
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With a common sense easing of restrictions over time, up to 8.2 million more animals could find homes in pet inclusive rental housing.
What’s the difference between pet fees, pet rent and pet deposits?
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A pet fee is a one-time, non-refundable fee that is collected before the tenants move-in.
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Pet rent is a monthly fee added to the rent. This can be per pet or per lb. or some combination of factors.
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A pet deposit is a one-time, refundable fee similar to a traditional security deposit that would cover pet-related property damage.
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There can also be pet-screening fees, pet lease initiation fees, monthly pet inspection fees and even pet DNA testing fees often used by landlords to "motivate" renters to remember to pick-up after their pet.
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Even in the most progressive states, current legislation typically only addresses the deposit category.
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What does "pet-inclusive" look like?
When housing units are pet-inclusive, they offer some flexibility on the number of pets and do not have breed or weight restrictions. Being pet-inclusive also means being free of unreasonable pet-related fees.