Pets in Rental Housing: A Growing Opportunity for Property Operators

By Victoria Cowart, CPM, NAAEI Faculty

_{Victoria Cowart, CPM, NAAEI Faculty, is the Senior Director of Education for PetScreening.  Previously, she was a direct multi-family industry member with extensive experience providing management and oversight for multifamily housing communities, mobile home communities, and HOAs. She is a property management instructor and a proud graduate of the NAAEI Advanced Facilitator Training. Victoria obtained her degree in the management of human resources and then her industry CPM designation. She has served the industry as President of both the local and state affiliates in SC as well as having served as a Regional VP for Region IV for NAA. Victoria has chaired four Committees for NAA, most recently serving as the 2021 Legislative Chair. She is passionate about legislation, education, and creating ease and understanding for industry members. Victoria is a wife, mother, and proud PetScreening pack member.}

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Today, well over half of U.S. households—between 66% and 75%— own a pet. Let’s break that down in the context of rental housing. With approximately 44.5 million renter-occupied housing units in the country, and assuming 70% of these households have pets, that translates to more than 31 million pet-owning renter households. Among those, the average pet ownership per household is 1.6 dogs or 1.8 cats. Using the more conservative estimate of 1.6 pets per household, we’re looking at nearly 50 million pets living in U.S. rental housing.

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The Disconnect Between Demand and Reality

Despite these staggering numbers, many renters and advocates—like the Humane Society—report ongoing challenges in finding truly pet-friendly housing. This disconnect can result in heartbreaking outcomes: pets being surrendered to shelters and renters struggling to find stable, fulfilling housing.

The question becomes: why, with such a large market of pet-owning renters, does this disconnect persist?

While the housing industry frequently labels itself as “pet-friendly,” renters often encounter only limited tolerance. As one Apartments.com spokesperson shared, “Nearly all pet owners surveyed said pet policies play a major role in their decision of where to live.”

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Turning Pet Policy into a Strategic Advantage

This is where pet policy management and property marketing intersect. Communities that proactively promote their pet-friendly policies are not only seen as more attractive by renters—they also experience higher conversion rates and longer retention.

The same Apartments.com spokesperson noted, “Pets are a deal-breaker for many, and apartment buildings with more flexible pet policies will be the ones to attract this growing group of pet-owning renters—and possibly keep them for a longer period of time.”

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Building Better Pet Policies: What to Consider

To craft or refine your pet policies, it’s important to go beyond a generic “petfriendly” label. Consider including the following components:

• Pet Restrictions: Will there be breed or weight restrictions? If so, how will they be defined and justified?
• Pet Allowances: How many pets are allowed per unit? What types (dogs, cats, birds, etc.) will be welcomed?
• Rental Readiness: Move beyond blanket restrictions. Tools like PetScreening’s FIDO Score, which evaluates over 35 data points, offer a more holistic view of a pet’s rental readiness.
• Vaccination Requirements: How will vaccination records be submitted and managed?
• Pet Fees and Charges: Will you charge pet deposits, monthly pet rent, or one-time fees? How will these charges be structured?
• Renter Responsibilities: What expectations will you set regarding pet waste cleanup, noise control, or supervision?
• Pet Agreement: How will you document expectations and ensure ongoing compliance?
• Pet Insurance: While renter’s insurance is common, consider requiring pet liability coverage, particularly for dog bites, which cost U.S. insurers $882 million in 2021 alone.

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Balance Risk with Opportunity

As you build your policies, weigh both risk exposure and the opportunity to strengthen resident satisfaction. Arbitrary breed and weight restrictions often fail to account for the actual behavior or history of a pet. When used, they should be combined with readiness assessments and pet owner accountability to form a fair and effective approach.

Recognize the broader value of pets in your communities:

• 97% of pet owners consider their pets family.
• Pets foster connection, helping reduce loneliness and build a sense of belonging.
• The physical and mental health benefits of pet ownership are well-documented— and valuable in today’s multifamily communities.

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The Bottom Line: Know & Serve Your Renters-Furry Family Included

For years, the rental housing industry has sought to better understand renter demographics. Today, the message is clear: more than 66% of renters have pets, and nearly all of them consider those pets family.

By embracing this reality and implementing thoughtful, relevant pet policies, communities can attract more loyal residents, boost retention, and enhance the overall living experience. Ultimately, it’s not just about allowing pets—it’s about welcoming the entire household.

Let’s meet today’s renters where they are. Let’s create communities that foster both individual fulfillment and long-lasting resident relationships—with tails wagging every step of the way.

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Join Our Pet Policy Webinar

Come have a chat with PetScreening’s Victoria Cowart, CPM, NAAEI Faculty and liability attorney Amanda Podlucky of Cobb/Gonzalez and ! We’ll be talking about all issues furry and fluffy, and there will be plenty of time for Q&A with the experts!

Paws & Policy - Thursday, Jul 10, 2025 - 2 ET/11 PT

Register Today!

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