At one time, apartment complexes weren’t always pet-friendly locales. But as more renters delay marriage and children, cats, dogs and other small animals are increasingly becoming family. This, in turn, has meant that apartment owners and landlords are moving toward not just accepting pets but providing amenities to help lure pet parents.

Connect CRE recently posed questions to David Diestel, FirstService Residential CEO, about the growing acceptance and demand for pet amenities and services, and what continues to drive the trend.

Connect CRE: Are you seeing more demand from renters and residents for pet-friendly properties?

David Diestel: We have seen more demand, creativity and investments in amenities and experiences for pets and their owners within residential communities. I often say, “Pets are part of the family,” – and that goes in my household too! That trend has been increasing over several years, but I do think even more so since 2020 through COVID. People take their pets into account when choosing where they live.

We work with diverse communities – from luxury high-rises and multifamily rental properties to single-family HOAs and large-scale, master-planned communities with extensive amenities. Across all these property types, people are looking for solutions to accommodate pets and enhance life for their owners.

Connect CRE: What are “pet-friendly” apartments or homes?

David Diestel: The difference between “pet-friendly” and “non-pet-friendly” is mainly in the common areas.

While cats and dogs are the most common household pets, most amenities are geared toward dogs. Most cats prefer to enjoy the privacy of their homes and maybe endure a spa appointment for grooming. In contrast, dogs enjoy socializing at the “bark park,” going for walks, freshening up at a washing station on the way home, or participating in community parades and other events.

At FirstService Residential, we work with developers and boards on two fronts to support pet owners. The first is to develop the services and amenities that simplify life for residents with pets. This can be anything from building and managing pet spas, washing stations, and dog parks to offering services such as dog walkers and groomers, pet day camps, and social events. The second is setting up pet policies so all residents – pet owners or not – can enjoy their community at ease.

In collaboration with their attorney, each association creates the pet policies that work best for their residents’ lifestyles. Some communities welcome all cats, dogs, and exotic animals, while others limit pets by size and breed. There is no one-size-fits-all policy, yet we see communities innovating to accommodate an increase in pet adoptions and more service animals residing there.

It’s important to note that service animals are not pets. The Federal Fair Housing Act and Americans with Disabilities Act protect those who require service dogs. Furthermore, regulations vary by location. Each developer, association board, or multifamily building owner should work closely with their attorney to ensure reasonable accommodations for approved service animals and create pet policies.

Connect CRE: What is the demand outlook for pet-friendly complexes and units?

David Diestel: We only see this trend continuing to expand, with more households welcoming pets and service animals.

The developers we work with continue to look for new ways to enhance the resident and pet experience, and it’s exciting for our team at FirstService to find new ways to bring their vision to life! That includes innovating with new amenities and services to accommodate these very special residents. After all, they are part of the family.