Renters

Chances are if you are reading this page, you have a beloved pet who falls outside of the favored 25 pound limit or is considered a “dangerous” breed. Do not despair. Your dogs are fabulous dogs and it is your job to showcase how wonderful your dog is and how great of a tenant you will be.

The biggest objections I hear when I encounter a landlord who has a limited pet policy or not one at all are the big three:

  1. Perceived Liability
  2. Their Cost of Insurance
  3. Damages to the Unit

Each one of these objections have, at one point, in this landlords’ experience proven to be true. It is also true that there are a number of insurance carriers out there who specifically have dog exclusions or charge a premium. But alas, not all carriers are created equally.

Here are a few ideas of how to make yourself more attractive to landlords:

Perceived liability

The fear here is that your dog will somehow incur an injury that will involve a lawsuit. We live in California and that is a possibility. The best defense you can have is renter’s insurance. The average insurance claim involving a dog bite is $24,840 according to the Insurance Information Institute. So you have renter’s insurance that is ten times the amount. An average annual premium for renter’s insurance is anywhere between $175 – $300.

I recommend Dori Einhorn of Einhorn Insurance – she specializes in helping tenants, landlords, and homeowners find policies that do not breed discriminate. She can be contacted at dori@einhorninsurance.com

Other tips to help boost your desirability as a renter include:

  • Kennel Training
  • Obedience Training
  • Liability Insurance
  • Additional Security Deposit
  • Create a Dog Resume

For more information on renting with pets please click here to read our guide: Tips for Renting with Pets.