NEW REPORT HIGHLIGHTS THE BENEFITS OF PET-FRIENDLY RENTAL HOUSING | Press Room | HABRI

NEW REPORT HIGHLIGHTS THE BENEFITS OF PET-FRIENDLY RENTAL HOUSING

Michelson Found Animals Foundation and the Human Animal Bond Research Institute Share New Data/Market-Based Solutions for Rental Housing Providers

The Pet Effect
Did you know pets can improve socialization among those with autism?

Did you know pets can improve socialization among those with autism?

Learn more about The Pet Effect here.

Featured Partner
PetSmart Charities

Los Angeles, CA (July 19, 2021) — Non-profit organizations Michelson Found Animals Foundation and the Human Animal Bond Research Institute (HABRI) today announced the release of a new Pet-Inclusive Housing Initiative (PIHI) Report, outlining the path to create more than 8 million new pet-friendly rental homes in the United States. The report identifies both the economic opportunity for rental housing owners and operators and the community benefits of pet-inclusive rental housing.

“Michelson Found Animals and HABRI developed this report to provide clear and detailed market-based strategies that benefit all – housing owner/operators, residents, and our beloved pets, who have been so important to us during the pandemic,” said Brett Yates, CEO of Michelson Found Animals. “We look forward to sharing this report to create more pet-inclusive housing for healthier, more connected communities.”

The report highlights results of a comprehensive survey of residents and owner/operators conducted on behalf of the Pet-inclusive Housing Initiative, and looks at the opportunity for pet-inclusivity to help blunt the impact of the pandemic on the rental housing marketplace.

“This report is grounded in data that will spur common-sense changes to increase the availability of pet-inclusive housing,” said Steven Feldman, HABRI president. “Our message to housing providers is that they can do good and capture an economic opportunity by easing restrictions on pets in rental housing communities.”

The data shows that significant restrictions on pets in rental housing present hurdles for pet-owners. It also shows that the majority of rental housing owners and operators love pets. Bridging the gap by increasing the availability of pet-inclusive housing can help families find the homes they need, provide economic benefits to owners/operators, and help up to 8.2 million animals find new homes over time.

Rental housing owner/operators can benefit from pet-inclusive policies by becoming attractive to a wider pool of potential residents. The data shows that, on average, residents in pet-friendly housing stay 21 percent longer than those in non-pet-friendly housing.  Owner/operators also reported that pet-friendly vacancies can be quicker and easier to fill.

“A major opportunity exists for property owners and operators to embrace pet-inclusive policies to attract and retain residents and enable more people to access the joy of pets in their lives,” Yates added.

Through the implementation of new pet-inclusive policies, rental housing operators can boost their leasing and resident retention efforts while also keeping families and their pets together. Solutions for owner/operators to consider include:

  • Attracting pet owners by offering a free month of pet rent or waiving pet deposits, and instead relying on regular security deposits to cover minimal damage that pets may cause.
  • Creating an easy-to-follow screening process and pet agreement that focuses on well-behaved pets and owners.
  • Formalizing the types of pets allowed in the community with forward-thinking, positive pet policies.
  • Increasing the number of pets that can live in a unit from one to two.
  • Coordinating with shelters and pet adoption agencies to organize virtual meetings with pets.

“COVID-19 may have altered the housing landscape as we know it, but it has also showed how pets are so important in people’s lives,” Feldman added. “By providing residents with a clear path to welcome a pet into their home, housing owner/operators can benefit, while helping residents cope in uncertain times.”

Key Findings in the Report:

  • Easing Restrictions on Pet Friendly Housing Makes Economic Sense
    • 83% of owner/operators say pet-friendly vacancies are filled faster
    • 79% say that they are easier to fill
  • Everyone Loves Pets
    • 98% of residents with pets and 92% of all residents surveyed consider pets to be important members of the family
    • 93% of housing owners/operators consider pets to be important members of the family
    • 76% of housing owner/operators identify their properties as allowing some pets, which reflects a willingness to accommodate pets by a large majority of housing owner/operators.
  • Current Restrictions Limit Pet-Friendliness
    • 72% of residents say pet-friendly housing is hard to find
    • 59% of residents say pet-friendly housing is too expensive
    • 92% of pet-friendly housing places some restrictions on the type, number, breed, or weight of pets
    • 35% of non-pet-owning residents say they would get a pet if restrictions on their rental housing were lifted
    • 33% of pet-owning residents say they would get another pet if restrictions on their rental housing were lifted

For more information, please visit petsandhousing.org.

About the Market Research

The market research, conducted by data and analytics consultancy LRW on behalf of Michelson Found Animals Foundation and HABRI, was conducted in the United States to explore the current housing circumstances of residents with and without pets in non-rural settings, and the perceptions of property owners and managers towards pet-friendly housing and pet owners. The research was conducted online among a nationally-representative sample of 1,049 residents (749 pet owners and 300 non-pet owners) and by telephone with 500 property owners and managers.

About Michelson Found Animals Foundation

Michelson Found Animals Foundation is a leading animal welfare non-profit that believes people and pets are better together. Generously funded by Dr. Gary Michelson and Alya Michelson, Found Animals operates a range of social enterprises, impact investments, strategic partnerships, and thought leadership initiatives that share a common goal: to champion pets at every point they intersect with our society. Found Animals has helped more than 5 million pets since it was founded in 2005. Learn more at foundanimals.org.

About HABRI

HABRI is a not-for-profit organization that maintains the world’s largest online library of human-animal bond research and information; funds innovative research projects to scientifically document the health benefits of companion animals; and informs the public about human-animal bond research and the beneficial role of companion animals in society. For more information, please visit habri.org.

 

Contact

Jamie Baxter

jamie@theimpetusagency.com

775.322.4022

###

More Press Releases

Press Releases
Newly Published Study Shows Young Children with Pet Dogs Fare Better Than Those Without

Results of a just-published study led by researchers at The University of Western Australia and Telethon Kids Institute and funded by the Human Animal Bond Research Institute (HABRI) demonstrate that young children from dog-owning households are less likely to experience difficulties with their emotions and social interactions compared to children in households without a pet dog. The study was published in the journal Pediatric Research. “Our research found that having a family dog in the household was positively associated with young children’s social-emotional development,” said Dr. Hayley Christian, Associate Professor at The University of Western Australia and Telethon Kids Institute and Principal Investigator of the study. “Our research also supports spending time walking and playing with the dog for added benefits, and we hope these results will help parents, children and pets remain active at home during this time of physical distancing.” “Findings of this study demonstrate that, starting from a young age, the human-animal bond can play an important role in a child’s social and emotional development,” said Steven Feldman, Executive Director of HABRI. “HABRI is proud to support this important research, which will encourage more families to consider the benefits of dog ownership and more dog-owning families to spend quality time with their beloved pets.” The team of researchers at The University of Western Australia and Telethon Kids Institute, led by Dr. Christian, collected survey data from 1,646 households, taking into account children’s age, biological sex, sleep habits, screen time and parents’ education levels. Findings indicate that dog ownership is associated with improvements in wellbeing and social-emotional development in children. Specifically, in comparison to children in non-dog-owning households, children from dog-owning households were 23 percent less likely to have difficulties with their emotions and social interactions...
Press Releases
New Handbook for Welcoming Pets at Nation’s Senior Centers

(Washington, D.C.) June 6, 2018 The Human Animal Bond Research Institute (HABRI) and the National Council on Aging (NCOA) National Institute of Senior Centers (NISC) have teamed up develop a handbook focused on helping senior center administrators incorporate pet-friendly programming and policies into their facilities. The handbook, Older Adults and Animal Programming, provides an overview of the scientific research that demonstrates the benefits of human-animal interaction, and a path forward for senior centers looking to develop or expand animal programming. HABRI and NISC first conducted a survey of senior center administrators from across the country to gauge interest in animal programming. A large majority of senior centers surveyed allowed animals in some way, with many senior centers expressing a strong desire for more pet-friendly programs and policies. Responses were received from 113 NISC-member senior center administrators from across America. Of the 28% of respondents that had a current therapy animal program, significant positive health benefits for participants were reported: Improved social interaction 71% Improved mental health 48% Increased physical activity 35% “Scientific research demonstrates the benefits of the human-animal bond for healthy aging – from reducing blood pressure to encouraging social interaction to reducing stress and depression,” said HABRI Executive Director, Steven Feldman. “With this handbook and through our strategic partnership with NCOA and NISC, we can increase opportunities for seniors to experience the healing power of the human-animal bond.” “Only 32% of the senior centers that responded to the survey reported having pet policies in place, so we feel the handbook is a timely and important opportunity to have conversations about the added value that pet programming can provide to the lives of seniors and staff alike,” said Maureen O’Leary, Program Manager for NISC. “We’re excited to provide this excellent...
Press Releases
New HABRI Survey: Knowledge That Pets Improve Our Health Boosts Animal Welfare

The Human Animal Bond Research Initiative (HABRI) Foundation today announced the findings of a new survey on the impact of knowledge of the scientific benefits of the human-animal bond on how pet owners care for their companion animals. The survey asked pet owners about their awareness of research that shows pets improve human health and found that this knowledge has the power to motivate them to take better care of their pets in important ways. “Scientific research shows that pets are good for our health, improving heart health, relieving stress and positively impacting conditions from autism to PTSD,” said HABRI Executive Director, Steven Feldman. “Now, for the first time, we have data to show that it’s a two-way street – when we know how good pets are for us, we are more likely to take better care of them!” According to the survey, seventy-one percent of pet owners were aware of scientifically-documented health benefits from pets. Most importantly, when asked how knowledge of the scientific research on the human-animal bond would affect their actions: 89% of pet owners said they were more likely to take better care of their pets 75% of pet owners said they were more likely to microchip a pet to ensure it can be found if lost or stolen 51% of pet owners said they were more likely to purchase pet health insurance 62% of pet owners said they were less likely to skip visits to the veterinarian 74% of pet owners said they were less likely to give up a pet for any reason 88% of pet owners said they were more likely to provide their pets with high-quality nutrition 92% of pet owners said they were more likely to maintain their pet’s health, including keeping up with vaccines and preventative medicine The survey also examined how different generations of pet owners viewed and reacted to the human-animal bond. For millennials, in particular, learning about the scientific research on the health benefits of pets had a large impact: 80% of millennials said this...
About HABRI
Research
Contact
  • Address
  • Human Animal Bond Research Institute
  • 1310 L St, NW, Suite 860
  • Washington, DC 20005
  • Telephone
  • (202) 728-7616
Platinum Transparency 2024 - Candid.
Healthline's Best Nonprofits 2017 - Animal Therapy
© 2011 – 2025 HABRI
HABRI