Wanted: Pet-friendly rentals

For Jessie Huart, finding a pet-friendly rental in Honolulu has always been a challenge, especially with a 95-pound boxer-pit bull mix that can intimidate landlords just with his size.

And yet Slaw, her dog, is one of the gentlest, most well-behaved canines you could ever meet. He’s house-trained and seldom barks, according to Huart, 30, who adopted him as a puppy nine years ago.

“He’s family,” she said.

Unwilling to give up her loyal companion, Huart said she’s had to move from place to place looking for a pet-friendly rental. Most recently, she had to vacate an apartment after renting it for four years.

“It’s more difficult with pets, no matter what,” said Huart, a coastal hazards specialist for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. “You have to be more persistent and on top of it, pet-friendly rentals go very quickly.”

Her situation is one that many Hawaii renters face on a regular basis, according to Bonnie Osaki, education and advocacy manager at the Hawaiian Humane Society.

“Part of the challenge is that landowners are just nervous about damages that might happen to their home,” she said.

To help, the Humane Society launched an online pet-friendly rental listing service a little over a year ago.

Landlords and property managers with pet-friendly rentals are welcome to post ads for free.

There aren’t that many listings — only about a dozen when last checked, ranging from a Kaimuki studio for $1,200 a month (including utilities) to a three-bedroom home in Hawaii Kai for $3,700 a month.

The Humane Society also offers a free, downloadable pet addendum property owners can use with lease agreements and information about pet laws. Many people, for instance, may not be aware that it’s illegal to charge a pet deposit in Hawaii.

Oftentimes, it’s easier for pet owners with smaller dogs to find a rental, Osaki said, while owners with certain breeds of dogs, like pit bulls, or owners with multiple animals, will have a tougher time.

Both pit bulls and pit mixes are banned from military housing units in Hawaii, according to Osaki.

Huart was able to find a one-bedroom apartment in Maunawili after a two-month search.

The apartment she found wasn’t advertised as pet-friendly, but Huart offered to let the landlord meet Slaw, provided references (including her previous landlord and two neighbors), and emphasized that he’s an older, house-trained dog.

“I think a lot of times people who don’t want pets had a bad experience in the past with an irresponsible pet owner,” she said. “If you have a responsible pet owner, they tend to be responsible people. They’ll pay on time and stay longer because pet-friendly rentals are hard to find.”

THE HUMANE Society’s goal is to help responsible pet owners find places to rent while encouraging more landlords, homeowners associations, and property managers to allow pets. Often when pet owners can’t fine rentals, they’ll surrender their animals to the shelter or abandon them, Osaki said.

The problem is also finding pet-friendly rental housing that tenants can afford.

Rentals have never been very affordable in Honolulu, according to Realtor and property manager Brett Schenck, particularly close to town.

A partially furnished studio between Diamond Head and downtown Honolulu averages about $1,000 a month.

Property owners who advertise that “pets are negotiable” can oftentimes charge a premium, he said, and pet owners who can afford it are willing to pay higher rent.

Schenk understands why some property owners do not want to rent to tenants with pets.

There could be thousands of dollars worth of damage but the only recourse is keep the security deposit. Repair expenses can easily surpass the deposit, he said, which could lead to a legal fight in small claims court.

If the unit is part of a condominium, there’s the potential for complaints filed to the condo association about barking, pet pooping in common areas and peeing in the elevators — all additional hassles for the landlord.

A limited number of condo buildings on Oahu are pet-friendly and feature dog runs and other amenities, but they usually limit the size of the animal to under 20 or 25 pounds.

And just because a building is pet-friendly does not mean the unit owner will want to rent to a tenant with pets.

However, allowing pets can also broaden the tenant pool. Schenk manages a number of properties that permit pets and he has some units himself rented out to tenants with pets — after a thorough check.

He asks if the dog has been crate-trained, neutered or spayed. He contacts the veterinarian to ask if it’s an aggressive dog, calls the tenant’s previous two landlords, and “interviews” the pet.

“I do more to verify the pet than I do to verify the person,” he said. “I do an odor check and a behavior check — how does the dog treat me when I step in? That shows me how much control the owner has over their dog.”

There are cases of people claiming they have a small dog when, in fact, they own a large Labrador or golden retriever. But Schenk also has rented properties out to people with pets who have been good, responsible tenants.

“Once they’re in, they want to behave because they don’t want to schlep around for another pet-friendly unit,” he said.