Millennials love their pets so much that it’s even impacting their home-buying decisions. While millennials are not as likely to own a house, have a car, or be parents, they are more likely to own a dog and buy a house specifically for their pet.

This may sound like bad news for multifamily property owners and operators, but this is actually a good thing!

Why?

The fact that millennials are actively searching for housing suitable for their pet means you have a prime opportunity to better promote your pet-friendly amenities and features.

According to the American Pet Products Association, 76 percent of millennials currently own a pet. 

This important statistic just goes to show that if you exclude all animals from your property, you are also excluding a significant amount of potential renters. 

Here are some of our favorite tips from successful clients to help your enhance your pet-friendly policies to attract more residents and give your property an edge over the competition:

1. Don’t Be Too Strict With Pet Policies

While you want to protect your property and residents by being cautious about the types and size of animals allowed, if you are too strict with your pet policies, you risk losing the lease. If any prospective, pet-owning renters have a difficult time finding an apartment that will accept their pet, they will flock to your property. Set clear guidelines and expectations from your residents regarding their pet while at the same time, being open and flexible about the type, size, or breed of pet you allow at your property.

2. Get Creative With Your Pet Amenities

Today’s residents desire more than just a pet-friendly apartment, they want dog parks, dog wash stations, and more. The more unique your pet-friendly amenities are, the more likely you are to score the lease. 

Consider turning some of your available green space into a fenced in dog park, or partnering with a third-party service to offer dog walking services and pet daycare. If millennial renters are willing to buy a home for their pet, traditional pet amenities they can find anywhere are likely not going to cut it at your property.

Here are a few pet-friendly apartment amenities to consider adding to your property:

• Pet-sitting partnerships
• Pet daycares
• Dog walking services
• Group buy-in for a pet insurance program
• Pet waste stations
• Rooftop dog parks
• Pet perches

Even just one of these features can help make your property standout and attract more residents who have a pet or are thinking about getting one in the near future.

3. Provide Pet Perks

From cat perches throughout your building to dog treats in the lobby, there are several simple and small gestures you can make to offer additional perks to your residents. Did you sign a new lease recently with a tenant who owns a dog? Make a welcome basket filled with treats for the resident and their furry friend, including a few tennis balls and even custom-branded travel dog bowls.

4. Promote Your Pet-Friendly Policies

Your pet-friendly apartment is successful at earning new leads and leases if you promote it effectively. Make sure your pet policies are clearly visible on the homepage of your multifamily website and your amenities are clearly listed. Be sure to include high-quality photography of some of your community’s furry friends in action!

Take some of the photos and promote them on your social media as well. Don’t forget to celebrate days like National Dog Day, Cat Day, Puppy Day, and Kitten Day. Show your residents you truly care about their pets and that you offer a welcoming environment.

You can even run fun social media contests to boost your engagement by prompting residents to share photos of their pets in the apartment community using a designated hashtag. The person whose photo gets the most engagement wins a gift card or prize.

5. Host Resident Events

Another great way to attract animal-loving renters to your property is through resident events. Are you planning a resident happy hour soon? Instead, turn that event into a “Yappy Hour” with pet play sessions and fun events planned for both residents and their furry friends.

Want to host a resident movie night in your clubhouse? Rent a projector and set up a “walk-up” style movie theater on your greenspace and invite the pooches to attend, too. Don’t forget the popcorn and pup treats!

Fetch More Residents With Pet-Friendly Amenities

Pet-friendly amenities can not only give your property an edge over the competition but it can attract more renters who might make ideal residents. While welcoming pets to your property can help you earn more leases, it’s important to still set expectations and guidelines to protect yourself, your property, the resident, and their pet. Be upfront with your pet agreements and set clear expectations for your resident so you can reap the benefits of a pet-loving community and fetch more leads.