To the great distress of pet owners who are forced to move, the facets of “landlords” and “pets” often do not mix well together. This can become a quite stressful issue, especially if the pet owners do not want to part from their beloved companions.
When pet lovers do not own a property of their own and are at the mercy of landlords and building managers to find housing, they may be faced with a rather painful dilemma. Indeed, if they are unable to locate housing that will allow them to keep their pet(s), or they cannot extend their stay at their old residence until they are able to locate a new pet-friendly residence, they will have to find shelter for their cats and dogs elsewhere. Some lodgers may be lucky and know a friend willing to temporarily care for their pet, but if nobody is available they may have no choice but to seek out the services of an animal shelter.
The reason why housing managers and building owners prefer tenants without pets is quite obvious. They are concerned for their assets and the damages pets may cause to them. Most pet owners are quite conscious about their animals and keep them clean, healthy and quiet, but then there are those less considerate. These people do not care if accommodations are wrecked and neighbors are disturbed, and those are the pet owners who ruin it for everyone.
Fortunately there still are landlords who will agree to tenants with pets, as long as they fulfill some of the criteria in regards to pet behavior, health and care. The tenant will be completely responsible for his/her pet and will pay for any damages caused by their animal. In that case, a legally binding agreement, mentioning all rules and regulations is signed by both the home owner as well as the tenant. If a pet-owning prospect is unwilling to sign such a written contract, the landlord may hesitate to rent out the property, or refuse to even look at the candidate’s application.
Building managers are responsible for the wellbeing of entire properties and all their occupants. They expect their tenants to keep their pets disease free and may require proof that all pets have a license, and were vaccinated - if applicable. Toilet etiquette may be surveyed and if there are too many complaints about messes that were left behind, or bad odors inside or around the building, the tenant may be asked to move out.
Respectable pet owners and renters know that they have to teach their companions obedience and that they are responsible for their pet’s physical and mental wellbeing as well as its behavior. If the animal becomes a threat to other occupants because it acts hostile or is unacceptably noisy, the tenant can expect to receive an eviction notice.

(Irida Sangemino)