Adopting a pet can make a home feel complete. But there are additional challenges when you’re renting. When you have a pet, finding your new home tends to be more difficult. A lot of single-family rental properties in Redondo Beach may seem to be a place where a furry family member would gladly call home. However, landlords and/or property owners may not be ecstatic about the idea of having animals on their property.
Reports about irresponsible tenants are plentiful, and it gives a bad name to otherwise responsible pet-owning tenants. This is an example of the acts of a few affecting the group as a whole. With the challenges that pets in rental homes raise, you may want to consider a few things before making the decision to adopt. Asking yourself these seven questions will show you the extent of how adopting a pet will affect your life.
1. Does your landlord and/or lease allow pets? If so, what are the restrictions?
As a tenant, the first and foremost question you have to ask before deciding to adopt a pet is whether or not pets are allowed at your home. There are a number of landlords that are open to allowing pets into their property, but there are also a number of landlords that have strictly banned all animals from the premises. Review your lease; most leases will clearly state which way your particular landlord leans. If your lease allows pets, then read it carefully to see if there are any restrictions on animal type, size, breed, etc. You may also need to confirm with local regulations for rules about keeping animals in your particular neighborhood. If you still have questions, make sure to ask them. Because if you get caught with an unauthorized pet, you may end up having to deal with some serious penalties.
2. Do you or anyone living in your rental home have allergies?
There are millions of pet owners who find out too late that they’re allergic to their own pet. As stated by AAAAI (American Academy of Allergy Asthma, and Immunology), pet dander, saliva, and urine can all trigger allergic reactions and even aggravate asthma symptoms. If you or someone else in your rental home has allergies or other respiratory issues, adopting a pet may seriously impact your’s and someone else’s health. If this happens, you would need specialized treatment for your symptoms, and this can make the financial burden of pet ownership greater.
3. Do you have a yard or enough space for a pet?
Pets need space to play, explore, and live their lives. This is true regardless of size— your pet could be very small or very large. So, before adopting a pet, make sure the rental home has enough room— or can be adjusted to provide room— so your pet can run around and get to live a healthy life. For example, dogs need access to a safe, secure yard (or another identified area) to do their business. Generally speaking, the bigger the pet, the more space you’ll need.
4. Are you home enough to care for it?
When talking about adopting a pet, we usually focus on the good things and we tune out the responsibilities. If you have a job or other commitments that require you to travel or stay out of the house for long periods of time, adopting a pet may not be a good idea. Pets require constant care and attention, so if they were to be left alone too much, they may develop unhealthy and destructive habits. A bored or anxious animal can destroy furniture, bedding, and other household items, and dogs may become a nuisance by barking excessively. The only way to rectify this behavior is to spend time interacting with your pet. This will encourage them to mentally and physically connect with you.
5. Do you have a backup plan for when life gets busy?
Traveling after adopting a pet can take a lot out of you. If you need to plan a trip because of something that comes up, and you have to stay out of the house for a while, you really need to have a backup plan for animal care. There are only a few places that permit you to bring your animals with you, but regardless of that, traveling with your pet can also make them feel scared and anxious. This means that in the event of an emergency, you’ll need to make use of backup care for your pet. This can mean calling on a friend or family member to help you out or calling a pet care service to do the job.
6. Are you financially ready for a pet?
The cost of owning a pet doesn’t end with the adoption fees. Some animals need routine grooming and virtually all of them need regular medical attention. Your animal may get sick or injured, and you’ll need to get yourself ready for that. That means having access to the funds to pay for emergency medical care which can easily run into thousands of dollars for just one incident. Then there is another financial aspect of owning a pet that is connected to your status as a tenant. Many landlords charge additional fees and/or higher rent for tenants who want to keep a pet on the property. But these extra costs don’t even cover the potential property damage your pet might cause, which you would probably have to pay out of your own pocket. This is why your fiscal status is one of the more important things to consider. You have to be financially ready to adopt a pet before going through with it.
7. Are you prepared to care for your pet for the next 5 to 10 years (or more)?
A number of pets live long and healthy lives. This means that pet owners who rent their place should make sure that they are capable of taking care of the pet for the next 5 to 10 years or even longer. Take a few moments to think about the future you want to have, then think about how a pet factors into that. Doing this would make you more informed so you can make the best decision for yourself. Who knows, maybe a pet is what you need.
In Conclusion
If you went through each of the seven questions and are ready to adopt a pet, there’s still one more thing you should do. Communicate with your landlord or Redondo Beach property manager so they know what you’re going to do. They can then make the necessary changes to the terms of your lease.
Are you interested in renting a home from Real Property Management California Coast? We have a number of rental properties that allow pets. Browse our rental listings and get in touch with us at 310-535-2150 to schedule a showing.
We are pledged to the letter and spirit of U.S. policy for the achievement of equal housing opportunity throughout the Nation. See Equal Housing Opportunity Statement for more information.
