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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.
Property management is a liability-rich endeavor. So much so that the National Apartment Association Education Institute (NAAEI) offers a Certified Apartment Manager (CAM) course, and there is one full module on risk management. The CAM program is worth your consideration.
The recently unveiled Multifamily Pet Policies and Amenities survey, conducted by PetScreening and J Turner Research and featuring the feedback of nearly 23,000 apartment residents, found that non-pet-owning residents are reasonably agreeable with a community’s pet population.