Apartments.com Finds Furry Friends Are A Factor In Where Renters Live

CHICAGO, July 26, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Summer is one of the most popular times of the year for people to bring home a new pet, and renters are among this pack of pet lovers.  A survey conducted by Apartments.com found 43 percent of respondents are current pet owners, with more than a quarter planning on getting a four-legged friend within the next year. However, renters need to do their homework first before bringing home a furry friend, as not all apartment buildings allow pets, and the ones that do often have fees associated with pet ownership.

Current and soon-to-be pet owners are in luck because property managers and landlords are recognizing that renting with pets is an increasing trend, and more buildings are starting to accommodate this demand.  Nearly 70 percent of renters surveyed reported having no difficulties finding a pet-friendly apartment. More than half of respondents also reported having to pay a pet deposit at their current residence, with 36 percent shelling out more than $200 for their four-legged companions.

"Renters have made it clear that not accommodating a pet could be a deal breaker in their apartment search, and many apartment managers have taken this feedback into consideration and adjusted pet policies," said Tammy Kotula, public relations and promotions manager, Apartments.com.  "There are plenty of pet-friendly options out there for renters who want to have a pet or even for those who just like the idea of being in a pet-friendly apartment community."

The survey also found that it is not just Fido and Fifi's owners who enjoy their pet's company; more than 34 percent of respondents said although they do not have a pet, they enjoy living in a pet-friendly building, and 20 percent of non-pet owning renters said they avoid buildings that allow pets.

The top five most popular pets for renters are:

1. Small dog (Under 25 pounds): 35.5%
2. Cat: 24.2%
3. Large dog (More than 50 pounds): 13.6%
4. Medium dog (26 to 50 pounds): 11.0%
5. Fish: 4.3%

For tips on pet-friendly renting, read Things You Need to Know About Living in an Apartment with a Pet (http://living.apartments.com/pets/living-with-pets-apartments/) located in the Apartment Living section on Apartments.com.

As part of its What Renters Want research series, Apartments.com surveys renters on various topics. For more information on these surveys or to receive a copy of the results, please contact Brittney Theriault at [email protected].    

About Apartments.com
Apartments.com (http://www.apartments.com) is a leading national apartment Internet listing subscription service with more than 50,000 unique addresses representing millions of rental units from managed properties, newspaper classifieds and for-rent-by-owner properties. By incorporating the most relevant products to reach renters including personalized searches and highly visual ads featuring live chat, real-time rent, online video walk-through demonstrations, professional photography, a mobile website and iPhone and Android app, Apartments.com creates easy access to its listings. Providing unmatched exposure to its advertisers through an intuitive name, strategic search engine placements, featured partnerships including more than 120 newspaper websites and innovative emerging media, Apartments.com reaches millions of renters nationwide, driving both qualified traffic and highly-engaged renters to leasing offices nationwide. Apartments.com is a division of Chicago-based Classified Ventures, LLC. The Apartments.com network of apartment rental websites includes Apartment Home Living (http://www.apartmenthomeliving.com), a leading social media apartment website distinguished by a "live for fun" community experience, proprietary lifestyle matching and local living guides to help renters find their perfect place to live.

SOURCE Apartments.com