Aparment Rant... (Portland: apartments, to rent, insurance)

[oceanfit185]

So I am having a hard time finding an apartment, and it is getting irritating! I have lived in Portland most of my life and rented a number of places. It has always been tough to find a place. But now it feels impossible. What’s changed you ask? I got a dog!

I am a 26 year old, married, and work as an accountant. My wife is a supervisor at her work, and is a volunteer Sunday school teacher. We always pay our rent on time. Neither of us have had any real problems with landlords. The point I am trying to make is we are ideal tenants. But we have a dog. Basically we are on the level of a convicted felon to many landlords.

Our dog is a papered pure bred, has her certificate of good canine citizenship and has excellent references. My wife and I work different shifts so the dog is rarely home alone. We are responsible owners and always clean up after our dog. But none of this matters.

The few places that allow dogs are taken almost as soon as they are posted. We called one place 30 minutes after being posted on craigslist and it was already gone!

I’m not sure what my point is. Like the title says, more of a rant than anything else…

[Maineah]

I suggest you either buy your own house or get rid of the dog. When we were landlords we wouldn't allow dogs. People leave them alone at some point and invariably they ruin the place. They either ruin the carpets with urine or just their natural body odors, claw up doors and woodwork,or chew up fixtures. Landlords don't want to have to pay thousands to repair and refurbish an apartment after a tennant and their dog leave.
I don't blame them one bit. Other tennants don't want to deal with your dog either. They do not need to dodge dog bombs on the lawn, smell or look at urine on the lawn or snow banks,listen to them whine or bark or recoil in genuine fear as, believe it or not, MANY people just DON'T LIKE DOGS! They don't pay rent to tolerate YOUR DOG! You're renting someone else's property and no matter what you are paying or how long you stay you still do not own the place. Don't try and tell me your dog is exceptional and his poop doesn't stink , and he won't chew up the place, it won't work I just would tell you no exceptions!
I'd like to tell you I have sympathy for your plight but I don't. You really should have considered your living conditions before taking on a dog.

[oceanfit185]

Originally Posted by Maineah

I suggest you either buy your own house or get rid of the dog. When we were landlords we wouldn't allow dogs. People leave them alone at some point and invariably they ruin the place. They either ruin the carpets with urine or just their natural body odors, claw up doors and woodwork,or chew up fixtures. Landlords don't want to have to pay thousands to repair and refurbish an apartment after a tennant and their dog leave.
I don't blame them one bit. Other tennants don't want to deal with your dog either. They do not need to dodge dog bombs on the lawn, smell or look at urine on the lawn or snow banks,listen to them whine or bark or recoil in genuine fear as, believe it or not, MANY people just DON'T LIKE DOGS! They don't pay rent to tolerate YOUR DOG! You're renting someone else's property and no matter what you are paying or how long you stay you still do not own the place. Don't try and tell me your dog is exceptional and his poop doesn't stink , and he won't chew up the place, it won't work I just would tell you no exceptions!
I'd like to tell you I have sympathy for your plight but I don't. You really should have considered your living conditions before taking on a dog.

First of all, wow, that is a little harsh… I am going to assume you were in a bad mood when posting it.

Also, the idea of getting rid of a dog like it is a simple peace of property is f'ed up. If that is your mentality, so be it. I probably can’t do much to change it. I would guess you don’t like dogs from the tone of your post. So I’m not going to argue with you. After all, you have every right to not like dogs, or want them on your property. Also my beef isn’t that my dog never does anything wrong. Any dog will do far more general wear and tear to an apartment. I completely understand that.

My real issue is that I have done nothing immoral. I should be an ideal tenet, on paper at least. Registered sex offenders and ex cons can find descent apartments in Portland. But because I have a dog I am on their level. Maybe I shouldn’t judge… It just seams like a mixed up set of priorities. Think about it, rape, or dogs, which do you hate more?

[Maineah]

Originally Posted by oceanfit185

First of all, wow, that is a little harsh… I am going to assume you were in a bad mood when posting it.

Also, the idea of getting rid of a dog like it is a simple peace of property is f'ed up. If that is your mentality, so be it. I probably can’t do much to change it. I would guess you don’t like dogs from the tone of your post. So I’m not going to argue with you. After all, you have every right to not like dogs, or want them on your property. Also my beef isn’t that my dog never does anything wrong. Any dog will do far more general wear and tear to an apartment. I completely understand that.

My real issue is that I have done nothing immoral. I should be an ideal tenet, on paper at least. Registered sex offenders and ex cons can find descent apartments in Portland. But because I have a dog I am on their level. Maybe I shouldn’t judge… It just seams like a mixed up set of priorities. Think about it, rape, or dogs, which do you hate more?

Your incredulity at the fact I do not love all dogs proves you have the wrong mindset going into this whole thing. If your dog was made of gold and crapped coins I wouldn't like it.You can like it, it's yours, but NEVER expect anyone else to like your dog!

That said I own a dog....It's not the world's best dog but we take good care of him. We own our home. If my dog damages my house I repair it. If my dog poos on my lawn I wash it away. If my dog barks the nearest neighbor cannot hear him. He does not bother people passing by and has about 50 acres filled with woods, streams, ponds, and fields to play in anytime he feels like it. He gets to live as a dog should live not cooped up in an apartment and taken for a poop walk a few times a day.
I think you are leaving out the part of the equation that makes you feel like a sex offender or rapist. The DOG! The dog is not you! You are not even getting to the judgement part as you are being rejected out of hand because you have a dog and MANY landlords, as you are finding out, do not want to deal with dogs. How can you feel like a second class citizen or below a molester??? It is not a reflection on you, your job, how well you scoop poop, how nice you treat the dog it's the fact you have it and expect others to tolerate it, that's asking a lot! If they let the accountant with the pedigreed pooch in they then have to let in the biker with the Pit Bull!

No I wasn't having a bad night I just can't understand a mindset that says I'm a good person so I should be allowed to have a dog in my rented apartment! What do you expect from people??
You will no doubt find a place at some point and I hope you do. Just try to see a reasoned point of view not skewed by your deep emotion for your dog!
The world isn't out to get you ....they just don't all want dogs in their properties!

[oceanfit185]

Your incredulity at the fact that I don't exercise my dog outside of poop walks shows that you have the wrong mind set about this whole thing. You are assuming that my dog lives a certain life... not true... I can't really prove what I do or don't do with my dog. So I'm not going to make this a rant about how great of a dog owner I am. The fact is dogs can live happy and active lives in the city too.

My point is that I am having the same experience as a felon while looking for an apartment. In effect, I am being judged. I am facing the same consequences as people who have victimized other people and are permanently marked in our society. So the result of me owning a dog has made me a sort of second class citizen.

I am not blaming property owners as individuals. However, I am saying the situation is wrong. I fully understand the world is not out to get me. I have not blamed anyone except for myself. But to quote Chris Rock, “that s*** aint right”.

[Maineah]

Originally Posted by oceanfit185

Your incredulity at the fact that I don't exercise my dog outside of poop walks shows that you have the wrong mind set about this whole thing. You are assuming that my dog lives a certain life... not true... I can't really prove what I do or don't do with my dog. So I'm not going to make this a rant about how great of a dog owner I am. The fact is dogs can live happy and active lives in the city too.

My point is that I am having the same experience as a felon while looking for an apartment. In effect, I am being judged. I am facing the same consequences as people who have victimized other people and are permanently marked in our society. So the result of me owning a dog has made me a sort of second class citizen.

I am not blaming property owners as individuals. However, I am saying the situation is wrong. I fully understand the world is not out to get me. I have not blamed anyone except for myself. But to quote Chris Rock, “that s*** aint right”.

I don't have any idea what kind of dog you own, I could care less. If you take your dog out for walks hourly ....great. As I said before You are NOT being judged they are not getting that far in the process because the stopper is THE DOG! I really can't see why you just don't accept the fact you're not the problem The Dog is the problem. This may be hard to believe but dogs are not kids and are not considered to be more than personal property!(that happen to crap all over the place).
Face it you were looking for sympathetic dog owners to commiserate with you on those nasty landlords.... and ran into me

[genmomto5]

Originally Posted by oceanfit185

Your incredulity at the fact that I don't exercise my dog outside of poop walks shows that you have the wrong mind set about this whole thing. You are assuming that my dog lives a certain life... not true... I can't really prove what I do or don't do with my dog. So I'm not going to make this a rant about how great of a dog owner I am. The fact is dogs can live happy and active lives in the city too.

My point is that I am having the same experience as a felon while looking for an apartment. In effect, I am being judged. I am facing the same consequences as people who have victimized other people and are permanently marked in our society. So the result of me owning a dog has made me a sort of second class citizen.

I am not blaming property owners as individuals. However, I am saying the situation is wrong. I fully understand the world is not out to get me. I have not blamed anyone except for myself. But to quote Chris Rock, “that s*** aint right”.

It's like one of those crappy situation in school where one kid does something bad and everyone gets punished. I hope you find a decent place.

[Maineah]

Originally Posted by genmomto5

It's like one of those crappy situation in school where one kid does something bad and everyone gets punished. I hope you find a decent place.

You're right in a way! There is plenty of precedent to keep responsible landlords from allowing dogs in their apartments. If I was still a landlord I'd agree you are ideal tennants except for the dog. I'm just telling you like it is. It may make you mad but there isn't much you can do about it. Sometimes a landlord will accept a double security deposit for dog owners if they allow any pets at all. I'll never understand the current obsession people in this country have for dogs. Go adopt a baby!

[doghead]

Oceanfit, I think it must be hard to rent with dogs in Maine. I live in the New York area with 2 dogs and 4 cats and have never had a problem finding a place through craigslist. That goes for Florida as well. I have seen many no-pets in housing ads in the Portland area. But I'm sure you will eventually find something if you keep trying. Good luck.

[fxtrader]

I used to be a tenant and had the same problem. Now that I have an apartment building I allow dogs. The building does stay full because of this. I charge an extra non refundable deposit and a little extra a month. The only issues I have had were barking complaints and one tenant that did not pick up after his dog. My insurance does not allow certain breeds.