While searching for off-campus housing, it’s impossible not to notice the “no pets” in bold at the bottom of every flyer, online ad or social-media post.
This trend of landlords banning pets is harmful to the community and to themselves.
The real estate market is thriving in St. George, especially with summer just on the horizon. New housing complexes are popping up around the community, and plans to extend current apartment complexes continue to develop. With so many people moving here from all over the nation, there is no shortage of people looking for homes. In addition, students living on campus are beginning their search for summer accommodations, and many other students have begun to drift away from the on-campus scene.
Unfortunately, by remaining “anti-pet,” landlords are slimming down their tenant pool and potentially losing money. According to the ASPCA, 44 percent of Americans from 2015 to 2016 considered a dog a part of their family, and 35 percent of families owned a cat.
Landlords who allow pets are able to charge higher rent, and therefore make more money. Charging higher rent does not include the deposit, but there should be a security deposit to cover any of the damage a pet may incur.
With the addition of pet-friendly locations around the community, such as dog parks, landlords are the last line of defense against the pet-friendly movement. According to sources in an article by CNN, one of the main reasons pet owners abandon their furry friend is due to the limited pool of pet-friendly landlords.
Tenants with pets, statistically, stay longer and renew their leases more than tenants who do not have pets, according to a study by Pamela Carlisle-Frank of FIREPAW, Inc. Tenants are also quicker to rent from pet-friendly landlords. The study also found while up to 85 percent of landlords who allow pets report damage, in most cases the expenses are covered with the pet deposit.
It should come as no surprise that people with pets lead happier lives, on average. According to a study by Miho Nagasawa, pets can lower stress levels and depression, as well as lower blood pressure and make pet owners feel calmer overall.
Landlords who continue to fight against pet owners are sure to lose money, limit current and future tenant pools, and experience a more difficult time with their tenants.
