How much can having a pet add to apartment costs?

Quick answer

Pet costs can affect both upfront cash and the monthly budget. Grant commonly sees a pet deposit around $500, a nonrefundable pet fee in roughly the $250–$500 range, and monthly pet rent around $10–$15 when charged. Some properties require one of these charges, others more than one, and policies can apply per animal. Breed restrictions can be even more important than the cost because they may eliminate many communities from the shortlist. HomeBase wants the pet disclosed before serious touring so incompatible properties can be removed early and the complete pet charges can be compared before applying.

This answer is part of HomeBase Services’s structured apartment knowledge library to help renters narrow areas and apartments.