Finding a home for you and your bigger-than-usual pet? Read on to find out what you need to know when looking for an apartment.
Here’s the problem: you have an amazing dog and found an amazing apartment – but the apartment has pet restrictions. What do you do to resolve this issue? We’ve outlined potential issues that may come up when searching for an apartment if you have a large dog breed.
What are breed restrictions?
Rental property owners and landlords in the city can put breed restrictions in place to reduce liability and protect their residents. They may fear that stereotypically larger dogs may damage property as a result of their size and energy.
The most common pet restriction for apartment tenants is weight limitation. This hinders large dog owners from finding the perfect fur-ever home.
Landlords might not be to blame for this limitation as many counties have breed specific legislation (BSL) which are laws that can restrict certain dog breeds from living in the area. Insurance companies also have ‘banned breeds’ lists which can affect the landlord’s liability coverage policy.
However, this doesn’t affect service dogs and emotional support dogs. These dogs aid in health and quality of life for people protected by the Fair Housing Act.
What can I do if I find an apartment with restrictions?
(Source: Vanessa Serpas on Unsplash)
Some ‘restricted breeds’ are aggressive because of their territorial nature, but if your dog falls outside of the ‘stereotype’ you can try to appeal the apartment restrictions for your pet. Appeal to your landlord that your dog will not harm their property or other people. Consider creating a ‘dog resume’ that highlights the character of your dog and provides references. References can include friends, family and the training facilities your dog frequents. On the ‘dog resume’ you should also include: weight, vaccination status, training history, breed, positive habits, and a photo. It would also be helpful to attach a letter to your landlord including any obedience training accomplishments and highlight why you are appealing the large breed restriction, if there is one.
As a bonus, you could ask previous landlords to write a letter of recommendation attesting your dog’s great behavior. With all of these recommendations, your landlord may bend the breed restrictions, but it is not guaranteed.
How can I show a landlord that I am responsible for my large breed dog?
Applying for and providing proof of pet insurance is the best way to showcase your responsibility. Pet insurance is an option often overlooked by pet owners everywhere. Enrolling in pet insurance means that you will compensate others if they get hurt, depending on your provider and policy. Pet insurance will let your landlord know that damage caused by your dog will not be their problem. This could be the key to allowing your dog to live on the property. You could also offer to give your landlord a ‘pet deposit’. However, your landlord has the right to refuse this offer.
You could also go a step further and request a ‘pet interview’ with your landlord to show that your pet is well behaved and not going to destroy their property. Again, the landlord has the right to refuse a pet interview but it doesn’t hurt to ask.
Make sure to do your research on the pet policy before paying the application fee for any apartment or home. Start your search for pet-friendly apartment living in the Boston area with SpotEasy.com.