Pet-Friendly Rental Housing: Racial and Spatial Inequalities

Renters with pets seeking quality and affordable accommodations face numerous challenges. This research aims to identify whether the racial/ethnic predominance of the neighborhood population relates to the willingness of landlords to accept pets. To address this question, we gathered 266 rental listings from Craigslist and Zillow over a two-week period in Forsyth County, North Carolina. While the vast majority of landlords allowed dogs and cats at rental units in predominantly white neighborhoods, less than half permitted pets at properties in African-American neighborhoods. Chi-square tests demonstrated the statistical significance of these differences. Additional policies including breed restrictions, weight/size limits, non-refundable fees, and additional rent for pets further limited the ability of renters to keep pets. We discuss implications for tenant autonomy, the welfare of companion animals, and the perpetuation of racial segregation.

Automated summary

This research investigates the relationship between the racial/ethnic composition of neighborhoods and the willingness of landlords to accept pets, revealing that less than half of the landlords in African-American neighborhoods permit pets compared to predominantly white neighborhoods.