‭Animal‬‭Policies‬‭in‬‭MAA‬‭Properties:‬‭Satisfaction‬‭and‬‭Safety‬

‭2024‬‭Report‬

‭Prepared‬‭by‬‭ZayShawn‬‭Diggs‬

‭Report‬‭Distributed‬‭April‬‭3,‬‭2024‬

‭Prepared‬‭for‬

‭The‬‭MAA‬‭Directors‬
 ‭Report‬‭update‬‭on‬‭pet‬‭policy‬ ‭–‬‭2024‬

‭Abstract‬

‭Tenant‬‭concerns‬‭about‬‭noise,‬‭odor,‬‭and‬‭violent‬‭attacks‬‭in‬‭the‬‭MAA‬‭properties‬‭will‬‭be‬‭covered‬‭in‬

‭this‬‭official‬‭report.‬‭MAA‬ ‭must‬‭also‬‭weigh‬‭the‬‭benefits‬‭of‬‭owning‬‭a‬‭pet‬‭against‬‭the‬‭drawbacks.‬

‭But‬‭in‬‭addition‬‭to‬‭the‬‭concerns‬‭of‬‭the‬‭tenants,‬‭we‬‭also‬‭need‬‭to‬‭consider‬‭those‬‭of‬‭the‬‭owner’s,‬‭such‬

‭as‬‭the‬‭additional‬‭work‬‭that‬‭comes‬‭with‬‭a‬‭pet-owning‬‭tenant.‬‭However,‬‭since‬‭competitors‬‭may‬‭not‬

‭permit‬‭pets‬‭in‬‭their‬‭homes,‬‭the‬‭company‬‭that‬‭allows‬‭pets‬‭in‬‭their‬‭residence‬‭may‬‭find‬‭it‬‭simpler‬‭to‬

‭locate‬‭tenants,‬‭which‬‭may‬‭increase‬‭their‬‭client‬‭base.‬‭This‬‭study‬‭outlines‬‭several‬‭arguments‬‭for‬

‭and‬‭against‬‭firms‬‭allowing‬‭pets‬‭in‬‭their‬‭apartments.‬‭Ultimately,‬‭companies‬‭must‬‭weigh‬‭the‬‭pros‬

‭and‬‭cons‬‭of‬‭allowing‬‭pets‬‭in‬‭their‬‭apartments‬‭to‬‭make‬‭an‬‭informed‬‭decision.‬‭By‬‭considering‬

‭potential‬‭damage,‬‭noise‬‭complaints,‬‭and‬‭increased‬‭tenant‬‭satisfaction,‬‭MAA‬‭can‬‭determine‬

‭whether‬‭allowing‬‭pets‬‭aligns‬‭with‬‭their‬‭overall‬‭rental‬‭strategy.‬

‭Keywords:‬‭MAA,noise,oder,‬‭pet-ownership,‬‭and‬‭tenants.‬

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‭TABLE‬‭OF‬‭CONTENTS‬

‭ABSTRACT………………………………………………………………………………………‬ ‭iii‬

‭PREFACE…………………………………………………………………………………………‬ ‭vi‬

‭EXECUTIVE‬‭SUMMARY……………………………………………………………………….‬ ‭1‬

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‭Executive‬‭Summary‬

‭This‬‭report‬‭explores‬‭the‬‭complexities‬‭of‬‭pet‬‭policies‬‭in‬‭Mid-America‬‭Apartment‬‭Communities‬

‭(MAA)‬‭properties,‬‭focusing‬‭on‬‭tenant‬‭satisfaction‬‭and‬‭safety.‬‭The‬‭COVID-19‬‭pandemic‬‭has‬‭led‬

‭to‬‭a‬‭surge‬‭in‬‭pet‬‭adoptions,‬‭with‬‭a‬‭significant‬‭portion‬‭of‬‭the‬‭American‬‭population‬‭now‬‭including‬

‭pets‬‭in‬‭their‬‭households.‬‭The‬‭report‬‭examines‬‭the‬‭impact‬‭of‬‭pet‬‭policies‬‭on‬‭tenant‬‭satisfaction‬‭and‬

‭safety.‬

‭Pro’s‬‭of‬‭Pet‬‭friendly‬‭Rental‬‭Apartments-permitting‬‭pets‬‭in‬‭rental‬‭apartments‬‭presents‬‭various‬

‭benefits‬‭for‬‭both‬‭tenants‬‭and‬‭property‬‭management‬‭companies,‬‭including‬‭longer‬‭tenancy,‬

‭increased‬‭rental‬‭prices,‬‭tenant‬‭happiness,‬‭accessibility‬‭for‬‭impaired‬‭individuals,‬‭and‬‭an‬‭expanded‬

‭tenant‬‭pool.‬‭These‬‭advantages‬‭underscore‬‭the‬‭potential‬‭value‬‭of‬‭adopting‬‭pet-friendly‬‭policies‬

‭within‬‭rental‬‭properties.‬

‭Con’s‬‭of‬‭Pet‬‭Friendly‬‭Rental‬‭Apartments-Property‬‭management‬‭companies‬‭must‬‭balance‬‭the‬

‭advantages‬‭of‬‭allowing‬‭pets‬‭in‬‭rental‬‭apartments‬‭with‬‭the‬‭drawbacks‬‭of‬‭liability‬‭concerns,‬

‭potential‬‭property‬‭damage,‬‭disruption‬‭to‬‭neighbors,‬‭and‬‭the‬‭risk‬‭of‬‭losing‬‭tenants‬‭due‬‭to‬‭allergies‬

‭or‬‭fear‬‭of‬‭pet-related‬‭incidents,‬‭to‬‭ensure‬‭tenant‬‭satisfaction‬‭and‬‭safety‬‭while‬‭minimizing‬‭risks‬

‭and‬‭liabilities.‬

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‭Introduction‬

‭This‬‭report‬‭explores‬‭pet‬‭policies‬‭in‬‭Mid-America‬‭Apartment‬‭Communities‬‭(MAA)‬‭properties,‬

‭focusing‬‭on‬‭tenant‬‭satisfaction‬‭and‬‭safety‬‭amid‬‭the‬‭increasing‬‭trend‬‭of‬‭pet‬‭ownership‬‭during‬‭the‬

‭COVID-19‬‭pandemic.‬

‭Problem‬‭with‬‭MAA‬

‭MAA‬‭property‬‭management‬‭company‬‭owns‬‭more‬‭than‬‭99,000‬‭apartment‬‭complexes‬‭around‬‭the‬‭world.‬

‭Over‬‭the‬‭past‬‭year,‬‭a‬‭significant‬‭number‬‭of‬‭tenants‬‭have‬‭complained‬‭about‬‭animals‬‭in‬‭many‬‭of‬‭their‬

‭buildings.‬‭Complaints‬‭have‬‭ranged‬‭from‬‭noises‬‭and‬‭smells‬‭to‬‭violent‬‭attacks.‬‭Prepare‬‭a‬‭report‬‭for‬‭the‬

‭MAA‬‭directors‬‭to‬‭determine‬‭if‬‭animals‬‭should‬‭be‬‭banned‬‭from‬‭their‬‭properties‬‭or‬‭if‬‭other‬‭options‬‭should‬

‭be‬‭considered.‬‭Be‬‭sure‬‭to‬‭include‬‭the‬‭pros‬‭and‬‭cons‬‭of‬‭your‬‭final‬‭recommendation.‬

‭Purpose‬

‭This‬‭report‬‭provides‬‭pro’s‬‭and‬‭con’s‬‭on‬‭why‬‭pets‬‭should‬‭or‬‭should‬‭not‬‭be‬‭allowed‬‭in‬‭apartments‬

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‭Analysis‬‭Of‬‭Report‬‭Update‬‭On‬‭Pet‬‭Policy‬

‭Pro’s/Con’s‬‭of‬‭Pet‬‭Friendly‬‭Rental‬‭Apartments‬

‭MAA‬‭Property‬‭Managment‬‭Company‬‭owns‬‭more‬‭then‬‭99,000‬‭Apartment‬‭complexes‬‭and‬‭they‬

‭are‬‭attempting‬‭to‬‭come‬‭to‬‭the‬‭conclusion‬‭if‬‭pets‬‭should‬‭still‬‭be‬‭allowed‬‭to‬‭reside.‬‭But‬‭statistics‬

‭show‬‭that‬‭70%‬‭of‬‭all‬‭americans‬‭own‬‭pets‬‭(see‬‭Figure‬‭1),‬‭which‬‭means‬‭it‬‭is‬‭most‬‭likely‬‭that‬‭when‬

‭an‬‭individual‬‭is‬‭searching‬‭for‬‭an‬‭apartment‬‭to‬‭live‬‭in‬‭they‬‭are‬‭most‬‭likely‬‭trying‬‭to‬‭find‬‭one‬‭that‬

‭allows‬‭pets.‬

‭Figure‬‭1.‬ ‭Pet‬‭Ownership‬‭Statistics‬

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‭Pro’s‬‭of‬‭Pet‬‭friendly‬‭Rental‬‭Apartments‬

‭One‬‭of‬‭the‬‭leading‬‭factors‬‭in‬‭companies‬‭discussing‬‭the‬‭pet’s‬‭in‬‭apartment‬‭facilities‬‭is‬‭due‬‭to‬‭the‬‭pandemic‬

‭and‬‭how‬‭when‬‭that‬‭happened‬‭many‬‭households‬‭purchased‬‭pets‬‭to‬‭combat‬‭the‬‭isolation.‬‭But‬‭even‬‭though‬

‭the‬‭pandemic‬‭ended‬‭23%‬‭of‬‭pet‬‭owners‬‭bought‬‭pets‬‭in‬‭2022‬‭According‬‭to‬‭(‬‭The‬‭Pros‬‭and‬‭Cons‬‭of‬‭Having‬

‭a‬‭Pet-Friendly‬‭Rental‬‭Property‬‭-‬ ‭Apartment‬‭Association‬‭of‬‭Metro‬‭Denver‬‭,‬‭n.d.)‬‭SIgnificant‬‭pro’s‬‭to‬

‭allowing‬‭tenets‬‭to‬‭have‬‭pets‬‭include:‬

‭●‬ ‭Longer‬‭tenancy-‬‭Due‬‭to‬‭the‬‭difficulty‬‭in‬‭finding‬‭somewhere‬‭else‬‭that‬‭allows‬‭pets.‬

‭●‬ ‭Higher‬‭prices-‬‭allowing‬‭pets‬‭in‬‭the‬‭residence‬‭will‬‭give‬‭the‬‭company‬‭the‬‭ability‬‭to‬‭raise‬‭the‬‭prices‬

‭if‬‭someone‬‭is‬‭a‬‭pet-owner‬

‭●‬ ‭Happier‬‭tenants-‬‭owning‬‭a‬‭pet‬‭reduce‬‭stress‬

‭●‬ ‭Impaired‬‭individuals-‬‭Meaning‬‭many‬‭people‬‭who‬‭are‬‭impaired‬‭need‬‭pets‬‭so‬‭allowing‬‭pets‬‭at‬‭least‬

‭dogs‬‭will‬‭provide‬‭a‬‭large‬‭market‬‭to‬‭the‬‭impaired.‬

‭However‬‭even‬‭if‬‭the‬‭corporation‬‭does‬‭not‬‭allow‬‭all‬‭pets‬‭even‬‭allowing‬‭one‬‭of‬‭the‬‭major‬‭pets‬‭will‬‭pets‬‭will‬

‭pull‬‭in‬‭more‬‭tenants‬‭when‬‭referring‬‭to‬‭the‬‭major‬‭pets‬‭that‬‭includes‬‭fish,‬‭cats‬‭and‬‭dogs‬‭(see‬‭Figure‬‭2).‬‭This‬

‭would‬‭allow‬‭the‬‭company‬‭to‬‭expend‬‭to‬‭pet-owners‬‭but‬‭also‬‭decreasing‬‭the‬‭amount‬‭of‬‭potential‬‭damages‬

‭from‬‭other‬‭pets.‬

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‭Figure‬‭2.‬‭Most‬‭Popular‬‭Pets‬

‭Con’s‬‭of‬‭Pet‬‭Friendly‬‭Apartments‬

‭When‬‭their‬‭is‬‭multiple‬‭pro’s‬‭that‬‭come‬‭with‬‭allowing‬‭pets‬‭in‬‭the‬‭MAA‬‭apartments‬‭the‬‭same‬‭can‬‭be‬‭said‬

‭about‬‭the‬‭number‬‭of‬‭consequences.‬‭Two‬‭of‬‭the‬‭biggest‬‭concerns‬‭when‬‭it‬‭comes‬‭to‬‭pets‬‭is‬‭the‬‭liability‬‭since‬

‭if‬‭a‬‭tenets‬‭attacked‬‭by‬‭a‬‭dog‬‭on‬‭a‬‭companies‬‭property‬‭the‬‭company‬‭can‬‭be‬‭found‬‭liable‬‭for‬‭that‬‭persons‬

‭injuries.‬‭As‬‭well‬‭as‬‭potential‬‭Damge‬‭the‬‭pets‬‭can‬‭cause‬‭for‬‭example‬‭even‬‭if‬‭someones‬‭dog‬‭is‬‭not‬‭that‬‭large‬

‭a‬‭small‬‭dog‬‭can‬‭still‬‭chew‬‭through‬‭carpet,damage‬‭cabinets,‬‭and‬‭put‬‭holes‬‭in‬‭the‬‭wall‬‭if‬‭they‬‭run‬‭into‬‭them,‬

‭some‬‭more‬‭con’s‬‭that‬‭come‬‭with‬‭allowing‬‭pets‬‭on‬‭to‬‭the‬‭property‬‭include:‬

‭●‬ ‭Upset‬‭neighbors-‬‭Dogs‬‭barking,‬‭sound‬‭of‬‭running‬‭around,‬‭and‬‭smell‬‭of‬‭the‬‭dog‬

‭●‬ ‭Lossing‬‭Tenants-‬‭because‬‭of‬‭allergies‬‭or‬‭fear‬‭of‬‭being‬‭attacked‬

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‭References‬

‭A.‬‭(2016,‬‭January‬‭18).‬‭6‬‭Reasons‬‭to‬‭Allow‬‭or‬‭Not‬‭Allow‬‭Pets.‬‭AAOA.‬

‭https://www.american-apartment-owners-association.org/property-management/latest-ne‬

‭ws/6-reasons-allow-allow-pets/‬

‭Cannaday,‬‭R.‬‭E.‬‭(1994,‬‭January‬‭1).‬‭Condominium‬‭Covenants:‬‭Cats,‬‭Yes;‬‭Dogs,‬‭No‬‭.‬

‭Journal‬‭of‬‭Urban‬‭Economics.‬

‭https://doi.org/10.1006/juec.1994.1004‬

‭Dangerous‬‭Pets,‬‭Risky‬‭Behavior,‬‭And‬‭Your‬‭Rental‬‭Property‬‭|‬‭LegalNature‬‭.‬‭(n.d.).‬

‭https://bit.ly/3IZvemY‬

‭Eberlin,‬‭E.‬‭(2022,‬‭September‬‭19).‬‭The‬‭Pros‬‭and‬‭Cons‬‭of‬‭Renters‬‭With‬‭Pets‬‭.‬‭The‬‭Balance.‬

‭https://bit.ly/4aAt9cJ‬

‭Olsen,‬‭E.‬‭(2020,‬‭February‬‭14).‬‭How‬‭do‬‭dogs‬‭affect‬‭rental‬‭property?‬‭-‬‭SJA‬‭Property‬

‭Management‬‭.‬‭SJA‬‭Property‬‭Management.‬

‭https://propertymanagersseattle.com/how-do-dogs-affect-rental-property/‬

‭The‬‭Pros‬‭and‬‭Cons‬‭of‬‭Having‬‭a‬‭Pet-Friendly‬‭Rental‬‭Property‬‭-‬ ‭Apartment‬‭Association‬‭of‬

‭Metro‬‭Denver‬‭.‬‭(n.d.).‬

‭https://bit.ly/3TBPnnX‬

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