All the multifamily news you need
Pet-passionate communities lease homes more quickly because they are appealing to a wider pool of potential residents. Those residents renew at higher rates and stay longer, because if their pet is happy, they’re happy. Properties that offer a truly pet-centric environment are already reaping the benefits.
Ultimately, it’s time we acknowledge that mental health is a pressing issue across the workforce, including within the property management industry, and take meaningful steps to address it.
Even properties that fashion themselves as “pet-friendly” often only fit that description on the surface. Savvy property owners, however, see an opportunity to bolster pet-friendliness and create a strategic advantage.
Property teams are often so consumed by the process surrounding assistance animal accommodation requests that they tend to overlook a very important detail—there are benefits. Whether it's functionality, inclusivity or promoting overall harmony, assistance animals play a positive role.
Crafting the ideal pet policy for your portfolio can be a challenging undertaking. On one hand, you have today’s renters, who are more passionate about their pets than ever. According to a 2023 survey by Cortland, pet policies are the top consideration for dog-owning apartment residents.
While understanding the nuances between service and support animals, the specific questions that can be asked and proper protocols for handling the requests are paramount, property teams should also understand the context behind the uptick in requests.
While apartment communities stand ready and willing to do all they can to provide welcoming environments for residents and their assistance animals, there’s no getting around the fact that these animals can present some challenges.
As a panel discussed in the National Apartment Association webinar Rolling Out the Welcome Mat: Rethinking Pet-Related Restrictions, forward-thinking pet policies are more important than ever considering the pronounced rise in pet ownership over the past decade, particularly the past two years.