Landlords are a finicky lot. If you're a pet owner, you'll find that the reception you receive from a prospective landlord depends largely upon his or her prior experiences dealing with pet-owning tenants. If the landlord's encounters have been negative, you're not going to be met with enthusiasm.

What landlords (and neighbors) don't want are animals which are loud, unkempt, venomous, dangerous, ill-treated, or endangered. In the context of pets, such terms as the "jaws of death" and "highly toxic" will not re-assure anyone. There are safety, liability, and other issues with such animals that everyone can reasonably understand.

But if you really want the apartment -- if your pet is more than teeth, venom and dirt -- and if you're willing to plead your pet's case, you can take several measures to convince the landlord that both you and your pet are responsible, "well-trained" and are capable of maintaining the good condition of the apartment.

Pet-owning renters are drafting resumes and portfolios for their pets these days. Sound eccentric or just plain crazy? Well, if you've ever owned a pet, you probably understand. For families as well as singles, pets are family.

Sometimes they're children, other times, our protectors, but in every case they're our confidantes and friends. And so those of us who wouldn't dream of parting ways with our pets just to land a good apartment are willing to do whatever it takes to convince a wary landlord ... even if that means we give the impression that we're just a tad loopy.

So, go ahead and draft a resume for your pet. Approach it as you would your own resume, printing your pet's name at the top. Instead of "Education" and "Computer Skills," create such categories as "Personality," "Experience" (living in other multi-family properties) and most important, "References." What better reference for your pet than a former landlord who will substantiate the argument that you kept your apartment in good condition and that you and your pet left the unit just as you found it?

Avoid getting carried away under the "Personality" category. You'll turn off your prospective landlord with lengthy descriptions of your pet's "cute" characteristics. Instead, list the important behavioral points: Your pet is house trained (litter box-trained, or in the case of dogs, trained to go outside two or three times daily without using your carpet in desperation), quiet, good with people, etc.

If your cat has been trained to use a scratching post, don't forget to mention that point, as well; since damage from claws is a legitimate concern of property managers. Don't forget to list your pet's breed and weight, as well. And because savvy landlords are wise to the fact that many prospective renters fib on their pets' weight, assuming the landlord will never see their pets, anyway; if you really want to demonstrate your honesty and your seriousness about renting the apartment, attach a recent photo of your pet (preferably using a camera that stamps each photo with the date).

Your pet's "Experience" includes any special training he's had (such as obedience school), as well as his prior residence in other multi-family properties. List the duration of your residency in each property, and -- as stated earlier -- make sure you have a contact (reference) phone number for a landlord at each apartment community in which your pet resided with you.

A bonus worth mentioning is "declawed" if your cat has undergone the procedure. While controversial, it's viewed as positive for any property manager wary of damage from scratch marks.

Another category you might consider including on your pet's "resume" is "Health." Is your pet's vaccination record up to date? Has he had any serious health conditions? Has he been treated for fleas or worms? How often do you have him groomed? Remember, there's nothing worse than renting an apartment formerly rented by someone with a dog whose odor still hangs in the air.

In addition to listing your previous landlords as references, include your former neighbors if they're willing to validate your claim. And if you've repeatedly used the services of a pet sitter while on business or pleasure trips, list his or her number, as well. If you've placed your pet in the care of a trusted friend of family member while you've traveled, list their phone numbers, as well.

You may consider attaching copies of your pet's vaccination record, which lists the dates of his most recent round of shots; as well as a report from your veterinarian that validates the good health of your pet.

While some -- particularly those without pets -- may view this exercise as eccentric, it's a smart move not only because it could help you land the apartment you want despite a landlord wary of four-legged roommates, but because you and your pet have established an early rapport with your landlord that will help build trust and protect you throughout your tenancy.

For more articles by Courtney Ronan, please press here.

Published: February 16, 2001

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