Finding an ideal home to rent in Lethbridge can be challenging, but pet owners say high costs due to extra fees are making it impossible to find affordable rentals.
The Residential Tenancies Act in Alberta says landlords can decide if animals are allowed in their properties or not.
The act also allows landlords to charge additional fees for having pets. But some say these fees are just too high.
Local resident Tyreene Martin has been looking for a place to rent for 10 months, but has been finding it difficult thanks to her two dogs, Loki a Yorki cross and Thor a Chihuahua.
She says the cost of renting with pets is high and has been living with her mom until she can find an affordable place.
“They say you can move in with pets, but then you have a pet deposit which is anywhere from $250-$500 a month and then you have a month to month fee which makes living there impossible.”
Others in the community have expressed similar concerns and have taken to social media to express their grievances about the cost of renting with pets.
“It’s awful looking for rentals right now. The cost has just sky rocketed over the last little while and it makes a single person really not able to afford to live out on your own,” said a member of Lethbridge Area Swap and Buy.
Another member of Lethbridge and Area Roast and Toasts, said in Alberta it’s been a huge problem for her.
“I’ve never had much of an issue as I have in Alberta. BC [British Columbia] was never as bad.”
And according to the Ontario Residential Tenancies Act, it’s illegal for landlords to refuse pets.
But in Alberta landlords reserve the right to accept pets in their rentals.
Landlords also reserve the right to charge a pet fee in addition to a damage deposit, along with added monthly fees known as pet rent.
Property Manager Don Wickens said how much extra a property owner can charge is up to them.
“There is no restriction on what they can charge, whatever the market will bare or whatever they feel the property justifies, so if someone is willing to pay it, then they can charge it.”
Wickens added some tenants have spoiled it for others and said at the end of the day the owner has all the risk.
“There’s no way of knowing if someone is a responsible pet owner and the property can be damaged considerably by pets and there’s very limited recourse.”
But high costs are leaving some pet owners with no other choice but to find alternative options for their pets.
Skylar Plourde Animal Control Officer said they estimate 25 per cent of all animal surrenders are due to housing issues.
“It is not uncommon for people having to surrender animals because of housing situations. Whether they are currently living somewhere and that place is not allowing pets or there are trying to move into a new apartment or townhouse,” said Plourde.
However, Martin says getting rid of her dogs is not an option.
“This is a life time commitment, it’s their lifetime. 15-20 years I got going, there’s no way I’m getting rid of my dogs.”
Martin adds if there were regulations put in place on the amount landlords could charge, it would make life with pets easier.
“The cost of rent is already really high and when you add a pet deposit or anything like that it makes it unliveable, you just can’t do it,” said Martin.
Plourde added if anyone has any questions about pet rentals or is thinking of surrendering an animal, Lethbridge Animal Shelter is always available for questions.
