Debbie Willis

Today, allowing and accommodating pets is nearly a mandate for renters. Developers and owners are incorporating pet-friendly amenities, like dog parks and pet spas, to meet demand from renters, but the increase in pet ownership has also put more pressure on property managers and operators. To effectively mange the increase in pets—and in particular, dogs—managers are implementing pet policies that both allow for a broad range of breeds and offset increased costs.

“We are seeing a lot more pets and predominately dogs in our communities, and it takes a little more effort on our part to make sure that our expectations are clear,” Debbie Willis, president and designated broker of property services at PB Bell, tells GlobeSt.com. “That is everything from clear and well-defined pet addendums that are reviewed with pet owners when they move in. In the amenity areas, like dog parks and dog salons, we have clear policies posted so that owners understand the expectations. It is manageable and it is something that we want to do. We are just clear about our expectations.”

In addition to amenities, properties are also giving move-pet gifts and planning pet-owner events. At PB Bell, the move-in pet gift includes a goodie bag with toys, treats and an inflatable water bowl. These amenities and services are common throughout the Phoenix market, where pet ownership is common. Willis didn't say if accommodating pet owners helped to boost occupancy, but she did say it would be unusual in the market. “In the Phoenix market, there are very few communities that don't accept pets,” she says. “It is pretty commonplace that every community accepts them, but they might have different guidelines.”