How Do I Find a Pet-Friendly Rental?
If you are a pet owner, it can be very difficult to find a pet-friendly rental in St. George and in many areas of Utah. This can be quite stressful when you have a pet and need to find a good home for the both of you. If you are in the situation of finding a rental space for yourself and your pet, make sure that you leave yourself enough time. Pet-friendly rentals are hard to come by, and you want to have at lease six weeks to look for a place and find the right fit.
A great resource for finding pet-friendly rentals is the Humane Society or the animal care or control shelter. Nonprofit places like this will often keep lists of pet-friend communities and rentals on hand, just for this purpose. Other websites with ads for rental properties will generally let you specify whether you are looking for a dog- or cat-friendly rental, so you can see options in your area quickly at a glance.
You may have to come to terms with the fact that your first, second, and even third choice of rental properties, just will not budge on a no-pet policy. Start off instead looking in condos, or privately owned rental units. Take note of who else has pets nearby the areas you check out, and see if they are well-behaved and well-cared for. You’ll want to know that you are joining a community of responsible residents and pet-owners.
It is also great practice as a pet owner to gather documentation that you are a responsible tenant. Showing any training certificates that your dog has can really help. Have favorable references from past landlords that describe how your pet was well-behaved. Also in this situation, a letter from your vet showing that your pet is fully vaccinated and spayed or neutered can’t hurt. It is good to show that you have been thorough and conscientious in your pets care.
Make sure you are willing as a pet owner to pay a little extra. Having a pet-friendly rental in St. George will often require a pet deposit and possible a monthly pet fee. Your willingness to pay may show your landlord that you do not have worries about the rental price or your income. Also, communicate to you potential landlord that pet-owners make great tenants. Pet-friendly rentals are hard to find, so you are interested in staying for a long time. Also let the landlord know that you are just as committed to your pet’s behavior and the cleanliness of your home as he or she is. You are in this together, and you can be trusted to manage your pet and all responsibilities related to pet-ownership.
