Renting with small animals in (Olympia to Seattle) (Tacoma, Bellevue: apartments, rentals)

[Kalliope]

I am looking to move to Washington in the first half of next year for a job. I won't know until mid-March if I'll be in Olympia, Tacoma, or Seattle, but my potential jobs are in those cities. I have a small dog (Yorkie) and 3 cats. I'm not looking to buy something, because the job will be a 1-year contract, and though I'll be staying in the PNW afterward, I'm not sure at this time if I'll be able to stay with that job or have to look elsewhere. How difficult is it to rent with 4 small animals in those 3 areas?

[allforcats]

It's not automatic that landlords will welcome companion animals, but it's also not impossible by any means. The smaller, and fewer, the animals, the better landlords like it. But you'll have to provide "pet deposits" which are often $xxx per animal.

Here are some resources, where you can do research:

Seattle and surrounds (click on the little map for locations):
NWapartments: Seattle apartment rentals, house rental listings, rental classifieds and other property rentals in Seattle, Tacoma, Bellevue and other Washington areas, cities and neighborhoods

Tacoma:
Tacoma and Pierce County Local News | News Tribune | Tacoma, University Place, Gig Harbor, Puyallup, Lakewood, Fife, Fircrest, Bonney Lake, DuPont, Eatonville, Edgewood, Milton, Orting, Parkland, Roy, Spanaway, Steilacoom, Sumner, Yelm

Olympia:
Front Page - The Olympian - Olympia, Washington
Plus craigslist for all those cities.

The Yorkie must feel like a kid brother with 3 older sisters! Funny and delightful family! I wish you well!

[Kalliope]

Thank you for the links. I'm aware the fewer, the better, but I don't really have a choice. They come with me where ever I go. I don't mind paying a deposit per animal either, since I won't really have a choice in that as well. I'm just wondering, I guess, if I'd have a better time renting a house with them versus an apartment/condo. I'd prefer the latter, since in my experience it's been cheaper than a house, but if a house is all I can find to rent, then that'll have to do.

[allforcats]

With only cats, yes, you could have more apartment, condo and townhouse options. With a Yorkie, I'd say that would be a landlord-by-landlord decision. I've lived a life filled with multiple cats, up to four, most of the time. But I've owned a lot of my homes...

Houses would probably be easier to get into with your tribe.

Have you noticed on websites like forrent.com you can check the Pets OK option and see what comes up?

[Kalliope]

Originally Posted by allforcats

Have you noticed on websites like forrent.com you can check the Pets OK option and see what comes up?

I have, but most places I see have a maximum limit of two animals.

[jinj]

If you have 3 cats, tell them you have 1. I have done that before, but a dog is hard to hide.