Eberly (aka Ebby), whose “pet rent” costs $50 per month plus a $300 deposit. Photo by Farrah Hassen.
With soaring rents, it’s already hard enough to put a roof over your head in this country. And if one of your family members has fur, it’s getting even harder.
Landlords don’t always accommodate families with pets. Pet restrictions can limit housing options and force people to make the painful decision of rehoming their pets or giving them up to already overwhelmed shelters.
A new report from the Pet-Inclusive Housing Initiative (PIHI), a program of the Michelson Found Animals nonprofit, found that 79 percent of rental properties nationwide accept pets. But less than 10 percent allow pets without breed or size restrictions, despite claims of being “pet-friendly.”
Over 80 percent of the dog owners surveyed said they had difficulty finding housing with their dogs. Most said they were forced to find another place or rehome their pet.
Half of all U.S. tenants today spend over 30 percent of their income on rent and utilities. But the housing costs don’t stop there. Those surveyed by PIHI ranked pet-related fees — including pet rent and pet deposits (which may or may not be refundable) — as the biggest barrier to finding housing.
“Monthly pet rent is the number one pet-related fee burden for renters at all income levels,” according to the report, which found that the average U.S. monthly pet rent is $34 and the average pet deposit is $325.
I can personally attest to these exorbitant fees after my latest move. I have to pay an extra $50 per month (plus a $300 deposit) for my beloved cat, Eberly (aka Ebby). Adopting a brother or sister to keep Ebby company would cost an additional $50 per month.
A refundable deposit to cover potential damage is reasonable, but pet rent for my treasured furry family member seems punitive. I wouldn’t have to pay “child rent” if I became a parent, even though my cat is probably less destructive than most kids.
This added rent is only further evidence of how housing costs have become a giant money grab for landlords and management companies. Complicating matters, pet restrictions and fees are inconsistent. Some landlords ban all pets, while others prohibit specific breeds and sizes. Some require pet rent and a deposit, while others only a deposit.
These fees and inconsistencies only exacerbate housing insecurity. Pets are also often banned at shelters, which leaves many unhoused people with the cruel choice of sleeping on the streets with their animals or abandoning them.
The main argument that landlords make for pet restrictions and fees is that they prevent damage to their properties and mitigate liability risks. However, almost 75 percent of tenants surveyed by PIHI said their pets have never caused damage to their rental units.
Of those who did report pet damage, only 12 percent had “severe” pet damage, defined as over $250 in estimated repair costs — an amount easily covered by most refundable deposits. (And why should these deposits ever be non-refundable if there’s no damage?)
Rental owners also cite potential bites or attacks from pets that could entangle them in legal fights and insurance complications. As a compromise, renter’s insurance could cover pet-related claims.
The solution should not be to ban common pets or charge steep fees. We need laws to prevent landlords from doing both.
Because fundamentally, pets aren’t “objects” or “possessions” for their human companions. They’re cherished members of families in their own right — and landlords shouldn’t have the power to determine what constitutes a “family.”
My family would be incomplete without my cat, who is an endless source of love, companionship, and laughter. When life gets hectic, Ebby reminds me to stay present — and play with him.
He’s also a wise soul. “No one should be forced to choose between decent, affordable housing, and their pets,” Ebby tells me. He’s right. And now it’s time to feed him.
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