Apartments.Com National Survey Reveals Renters Are Living For Their Companion Animals

According to an Apartments.com survey of a thousand renters from throughout the U.S., nearly 90% currently have a companion animal and of those who do not own a companion animal, more than half plan to get one over the next year. A strong majority of renters (80%) said a companion animal-friendly policy played a major role in where they chose to live.

Nearly a third of renters (30%) searched for a rental near companion animal amenities such as dog parks, trails, and veterinarians. Although the majority of renters note difficulty in finding companion animal-friendly accommodations, 89% said they did not have to choose between their companion animal and a home. More than 80% of renters say that companion animal-friendly rental policies were an important factor in where they chose to live.

Of the survey respondents who were forced to give up a companion animal, 65% could not find a rental with a companion animal-friendly policy and 27% could not afford the companion animal deposit. More than half paid more than $200 for a companion animal deposit, and 60% said they would be less likely to rent a home requiring a companion animal deposit.

In 2008, more than 11 million searches for homes that allowed companion animals were conducted on Apartments.com.