Pet parks are excellent ways to help renters keep their pets healthy and active. Outdoor pet parks provide opportunities for pets to socialize with each other while running off the day’s pent-up energy, making them calmer and less likely to tear up an apartment. When building your outdoor park, be sure to include trash bags for clean-up, grassy areas to keep paw pads safe from hot concrete and fences to stop off-leash pets from running away. If a dedicated green space for pets doesn’t fit within your community, running paths for owners and their pets can serve as an appropriate substitute.

When creating these spaces, consider how colder months will affect renters. Their pets will still need the activity, even if snow is piling up outside. Installing an indoor pet park will keep both pets and their owners warm and provide an extra touch of hospitality you residents aren’t likely to forget.

It isn’t just pets that can benefit from these parks. Studies have also proven the importance of pet play spaces for human health. Pet owners are shown to have improved mental and physical health, as frolicking with their animals lowers blood pressure and generates more relaxation hormones. And, with a well-frequented space, residents have the chance to mingle with people who have common likes and interests. Investing in these spaces ensures that your residents will be happy with their homes and health.

Much as pets are beloved, taking care of them while balancing work, family, bills and daily errands can be too much for a person to handle. Apartment communities can lessen the strain by providing services such as pet sitting or walking for absent renters.

When establishing these services, think about what your renters will need and when they’ll need it. It may be a good idea to offer a community program staffed by animal-loving volunteers, or you may need to contract with a local pet service. You can also create an online database for residents to sign up for pet sitting services or look at available sitters.

Since pet sitters will be taking care of valued family members, be sure to vet them to find the most capable and professional candidates. It may also be worthwhile to provide your residents with easy ways to monitor their pets and sitters, such as a video chat line. This way, you preserve your residents’ peace of mind and do your due diligence in taking care of their pets

Let’s face it—whether it’s a puppy with an overactive chewing habit or a cat with an affinity for screen-climbing, property damage from pets is a real and relevant issue. Your renters don’t want to pay additional fees, and you don’t want to devote large amounts of resources to fixing damaged items. Proactively planning for this eventuality can help you manage renter expectations while keeping your property offering intact.

Finding ways to pet-proof apartments can help keep damages to a minimum. Consider securing your screens within windows rather than using ones that can pop out. Additionally, try using window blinds that stay secured to window sills or are made of less breakable materials. Use a carpet that doesn’t easily stain, and, if you offer fully furnished spaces, find furniture that is easy to clean.

It is also important to establish pet damage contingencies that help renters while protecting your apartments. If damage from pets is not severe, a pet deposit paid upon resident move-in will usually cover the costs of replacing items. You could also consider providing some cleaning products, like stain spot treatment or dusting pads, as well as extra window blind shades in a complimentary “pet welcome” care package. Fur babies aren’t always the tidiest, but working with renters before an accident happens shows how much you care about them regardless.

Pet care services like grooming and washing are consistently in high demand. You can save your renters the time and effort of looking for the best options by bringing such services to them.

Consider opening a “pet spa,” where owners can bring their animals for pampering. Much like a day care service, owners can leave their pets in the hands of professionals and use the free time to their advantage. You can also offer special pet sessions, such as training seminars or an on-site vet to augment the spa experience.

Whether you commission local professionals to bring their expertise to your residents or hire dedicated team members, offering these services to your community shows residents they can rely on you to accommodate their pets and make their lives easier. Your community will not only offer great living spaces, but will truly be equipped to handle the needs of its residents.

Renters’ needs will shift with their pets, making it critical for property managers to review their current pet policies from time to time and adjust accordingly. Sending a quick survey to residents asking for their feedback on pet policies is a great way to learn more about communities’ needs while showing residents that their landlords care about their well-being.

Pet-friendly policies should both protect a property and create a living environment that can support humans and animals alike. Property managers should consider factors that influence their policies, such as what breeds and sizes of animals to allow, whether pet deposits can be refundable or how to keep records of pets on file, when polling their residents. Community feedback is one of the most valuable benchmarks for success a property manager can use and incorporating resident suggestions into your policies shows them you care about their lives and what they have to say.

Not only are pets good for renters, they’re good for property managers too. Offering high quality pet services can widen tenant pools, increase renewals, grow profits and ultimately improve a property’s reputation. Pushing the boundaries past typical pet services is guaranteed to generate some buzz about your high quality amenities, which will leave an impact on your residents and bring in more prospective renters.

Creating spaces for families and their furry, scaled or winged friends is a modern day necessity. Pets have snuggled their ways into renters’ hearts and are the multifamily housing community’s cutest residents. Offering special pet services shows renters that you care for the comfort of their companions, just as you care for them.