Chapel Hill Durham Real Estate

1. Give yourself enough time. No one likes the hassles involved with moving, or finding rental housing that accepts pets.  Start to check ads, contact real estate agents, and rental agencies at least six weeks before you move.

2. Understand why many housing communities reject pets. Put yourself in the shoes of a landlord, housing manager, property owner, or condominium association board member for a moment: They may have had bad experiences with irresponsible pet owners who didn’t safely confine their animals or pick up their feces, sneaked pets in, or left ruined carpets and drapes when they moved out. They may be worried about complaints from neighbors about barking dogs and wonder how they are going to deal effectively with pet owners if problems arise. All these concerns are legitimate.

That’s why people looking for an apartment, house, or condominium to rent must be able to sell themselves as responsible pet owners, who are committed to providing responsible pet care and being responsible neighbors.

3. Make use of available resources. Contact animal care and control agency or the humane society  serving the area into which you are moving; the agency may be able to provide you with a list of apartment communities that allow pets. If you know any real estate agents, rental agents, or resident managers who own pets themselves or who share your love of animals, ask them for leads. Look for a community apartment guidebook at the supermarket or near newspaper distribution boxes on the street. The guide may indicate which apartment communities allow pets and may list any restrictions, such as species allowed or weight limits. Also, be sure to check local newspapers. Last but not least, take a look at our links to sites that list animal-friendly apartments.

4. Recognize that it may be futile to try to sell yourself and your pet to a large rental community with a no-pets policy. You’re more likely to be successful if you focus on places that allow most pets, allow certain pets (for example, cats or dogs weighing less than 20 pounds), or that don’t say, “Sorry, no pets.” Individual home and condominium owners may be easiest to persuade. Look for a community with appropriate pet-keeping guidelines that specify resident obligations. That’s the kind of place that’s ideal for pet owners because you’ll know that other pet caregivers there also are committed to being responsible residents.

5. Gather proof that you’re responsible. The more documentation you can provide attesting to your conscientiousness as a pet owner, the more convincing your appeal will be to your future landlord. Try to compile the following documents:

• A letter of reference from your current landlord or condominium association verifying that you are a responsible pet owner.
• Written proof that your adult dog has completed a training class, or that your puppy is enrolled in one.
• A letter from your veterinarian stating that you have been diligent in your pet’s medical care. Supply documentation that your pet has been spayed or neutered and vaccinated against rabies. (Sterilized pets are healthier, calmer, and far less likely to be a nuisance to neighbors.) Most veterinarians routinely fulfill such requests for their clients.

6. Make your request to the individual or group with the ultimate authority to grant your request. Typically this will be the owner of the house or apartment. The owner may, however, delegate the decision to a property manager or resident manager. Check to see if, in addition to obtaining the landlord’s approval, you must also submit a written request to the building’s board of directors (or association, in the case of a condominium community).7. If you encounter a no-pets policy, ask if it is the result of a negative experience with a previous resident. Addressing your landlord’s prior experience could very well show you how to present your own request in the most effective way8. Let the landlord, manager, or condominium board know that you share any concerns about cleanliness. Point out that your pet is housetrained or litter-box trained. Let them know  that you always clean up after your dog outdoors and that you always dispose of your pet’s waste properly.9. Promote yourself. Bring to their attention that responsible pet owners make excellent residents. Because they must search harder for a place to live, pet caregivers are more likely to stay put. Lower vacancy rates mean lower costs and fewer headaches for landlords and real estate agents. Let prospective landlords and managers know that you understand that living with a companion animal is a privilege, not a right.