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CHICAGO (June 8, 2009) – Renters love pets and are doing their part to find a place to live that accommodates both them and their four-legged cohabitators. According to an Apartments.com survey of more than 1,000 renters around the country, nearly 90 percent of renters who responded said they have a pet. Of the renters surveyed that do not currently own a pet, more than half plan to become pet owners within the next year.

Pets are being made a priority by renters during their apartment search. More than 80 percent of respondents said a pet-friendly policy played a major role in where they chose to live and 30 percent sought out an apartment in close proximity to desirable pet amenities such as dog parks, walking trails and a veterinary office.

As devoted pet owners, renters are holding on to their felines and canines even when faced with obstacles during their apartment search. While the majority of respondents experienced difficulty finding an apartment that allowed pets, 89 percent said they were not put in a position where they had to choose between their beloved animal and a place to live.

Apartments.com has seen an upward trend of more and more properties welcoming pets. For survey respondents who said they were forced to give up their pet(s), the two main causes were identified as not being able to find an apartment with a pet-friend policy (65%) or not being able to afford the pet deposit (27%). More than half of renters surveyed said they paid more than $200 for a pet deposit, and nearly 60 percent said they would be less likely to rent an apartment requiring a pet deposit.

Millions of renters from around the country are in need of pet-friendly apartments. In 2008, more than 11 million searches for apartments that allow cats and dogs were conducted on Apartments.com. New pet owners looking for an apartment are encouraged to read the following tips prior to moving in to ensure they are familiar with the building’s pet policy.

1.  Ask Permission.  Before you get a pet, ask your landlord’s permission. There are many pet-friendly apartments available, but equally as many with a strict policy of “no pets allowed.” If you have your heart set on getting a pet, be sure to communicate your plans to your landlord or property manager before signing the lease. It would be terrible to have to choose between your new best friend and the costs associated with breaking a lease. 

 

2.  Conduct an Online Search.  Many online apartment search sites allow users to conduct a pet-friendly apartment search.  Simply select the type of pet that you have—or that you’re planning to get—in your search criteria and you’ll be able to find apartments that allow cats, small dogs or even large dogs. Be sure to ask your potential landlord if there are any size or weight limitations. Some buildings may even prohibit specific breeds.  

3.  Pony Up for the Pet Deposit.  Some apartment properties charge an additional deposit to renters with dogs, or may even ask for a monthly fee for pet rent. When visiting your potential new place, confirm any additional costs associated with owning a pet. Remember to also ask if the deposit is refundable or non-refundable. 

For more pet-renting tips, read “Things You Need to Know About Living in an Apartment with a Pet” (http://living.apartments.com/pets/living-with-pets-apartments/) located in the “Apartment Living” section on Apartments.com.

Renters who put their pet on a pedestal are also encouraged to enter the Apartments.com “Roommate of the Year Contest” where they can win the grand prize of $22,000 by illustrating how they are the purr-fect roommate to their pet in a video entry of two minutes or less. Entries are accepted at www.roommateoftheyear.com through June 30, 2009.

As part of its monthly “What Renters Want” research series, Apartments.com surveys renters on various topics. For more information on these surveys or to receive a copy of additional survey results, please contact Tammy Kotula at tkotula@apartments.com.

About Apartments.com
Apartments.com is a leading national apartment Internet listing subscription service with more than 50,000 unique addresses representing millions of rental units from managed properties, newspaper classifieds and for-rent-by-owner properties. By incorporating the most relevant products to reach renters including personalized searches and highly visual ads featuring live chat, real-time rent, online video walk-through demonstrations, professional photography, a mobile website and iPhone and Android app, Apartments.com creates easy access to its listings. Providing unmatched exposure to its advertisers through an intuitive name, strategic search engine placements, featured partnerships including Yahoo! Real Estate, Univision and more than 120 newspaper websites and innovative emerging media, Apartments.com reaches millions of renters nationwide, driving both qualified traffic and highly-engaged renters to leasing offices nationwide. Apartments.com is a division of Chicago-based Classified Ventures, LLC. The Apartments.com network of apartment rental websites includes Apartment Home Living, a leading social media apartment website distinguished by a "live for fun" community experience, proprietary lifestyle matching and local living guides to help renters find their perfect place to live.