Challenges of Renting with Pets

A Little More on the Challenges of Renting with Pets

I recently spoke with a realtor and was upfront about having pets. He asked a few questions about the people who would be living in the apartment, and then the interrogation about the animals began.

How many? What kinds? What’s their gender? Weight? Age? Are they vaccinated? Are they registered with a vet? Have they been spayed or neutered? Do you trim their claws?

At that moment, I realized that in English, I come across as much more polite and composed. I first think, "You might as well ask if I wipe their behinds," then translate that in my head, and finally understand that some things are better left unsaid. At the vet's office, they ask way fewer questions!

Last week, we found an amazing apartment just 15 minutes from our tennis club. Everything lined up perfectly: the price, location, stunning interior, two rooms, forest-view windows, a balcony, and they allow pets. It’s available from March! I can overlook the carpets in the bedrooms because everything else is fantastic. Just take a look!

I have alerts set up for this area and reached out on the day the listing was published. The owner replied that there are already three people ahead of me ready to put down a deposit. AAH!

I refused to give up and offered her more money for the apartment. Then I found out that as of May 1, a law goes into effect preventing landlords from encouraging bidding wars among tenants. Landlords must rent at the listed price. It seems our landlord wants to play it safe and is already adhering to this new law.

I was genuinely upset but wished her the best in finding good tenants. Then she told me not to worry! If it helps, our neighbor has an allergy to cats, and since you have two, I doubt we could come to an agreement. Wait, it’s the neighbor who has the allergy, not the landlord!

Ugh, I just want to scream at the neighbors and those other tenants who are making it so hard for us to move into this apartment!