Getting an apartment can be a genuine headache, even if it is exciting to finally spread your wings and move to a new chapter in your life. For pet owners, the process is made worse by near-universal monthly pet fees and regular no-pet policies from more strict landlords. Because of this, many people choose not to own pets when living in apartments.

 

This is regrettable, as many people do not necessarily need to get rid of their pets to find affordable housing, particularly if they are eligible for emotional support animals. That being said, it is not exactly a simple process to find a place that will take an animal and still be financially viable for the average person with such steep costs country-wide.

 

This article is going to examine apartment pet policies, how strict a landlord can be, the repercussions of breaking policy, and how to find legal loopholes around it. By the end of this article, you may find you can not only get your dog or cat into an apartment, but also do so without having to pay a monthly pet fee.

Common Apartment Pet Policies

There are several things to consider when thinking of pet policies, and many apartments differ from one to another. Many will have breed restrictions, which determine what canines can enter the apartment complex in a housing arrangement, and what others are not allowed to. The breeds commonly restricted are German Shepherds, pit bulls, and Rottweilers.

 

Typically, the bigger an animal is, the harder time you will have bringing it into an apartment complex. For certain complexes, they may even put in weight restrictions which limit pets to felines, medium to smaller dog breeds, and certain rodents, critters, and birds.

 

On top of breed restrictions, your landlord may decide what species of pets are allowed and the number that you can bring into any one home. It is not uncommon for apartments to place restrictions on more exotic animals like birds, lizards, or even some rodents.

 

In most places, there will be a pet fee in place along with an updated and inflated monthly rent cost for those who choose to live with pets. These can range widely from one place to another, and can be found in every state across the country.

 

The worst of all is a no-pet policy which outright bans all residents who are not human. This can be devastating for those who must find affordable housing but cannot bring their pets with them. Fortunately, there is one alternative that is commonly used by those suffering from mental or emotional afflictions.

How to Get Around Apartment Pet Policies

 

The one way for apartments with a no-pet policy is service dogs and emotional support animals. These animals are not legally classified as pets under the Fair Housing Act and are therefore exempt from landlords who refuse to house an animal. This does not mean that the animal is free to wreak havoc, and owners will still need to look after their ESA.

 

Getting an emotional support animal is lengthy, but can typically be done in under a month unless state law requires a 30-day relationship with the licensed mental health professional. You will need to get diagnosed for a qualifying mental affliction (depression, anxiety, PTSD, etc.) and then have an LMHP write you an ESA letter.

 

Once you have this ESA letter, you can present it to your landlord to avoid pet policies. Note that you don’t have to visit a mental health professional in person to be approved for an emotional support animal. You can also use an ESA letter service; as long as you’re evaluated by a licensed provider, it doesn’t matter whether you got it in person or through telehealth.

Brief Summary on Apartment Pet Policies

One of the biggest downsides to living in an apartment is the sometimes strict policies that are put in place, and none being more draconian than the ones surrounding pets. From breed restrictions to no-pet policies, your dreams of a quiet home to call your own can quickly be dashed upon the rocks once you see how expensive it is to bring your pet along.

 

To combat these policies, consider getting an emotional support animal not only for the legal protections, but to help improve your day-to-day life. Talk with an LMHP, get them to write you an ESA letter, and remember to renew it once a year, or it will be null and void.