Warranties Offered to Help Pet-Owners Lease Properties

A pet-loving Internet entrepreneur has launched a new Web site
that he hopes will help pet owners have an easier time renting
apartments by providing them a warranty against property damage.
The site is Leasewithpets.com.

Founder Keith Snow said he and his wife developed the company
because they had a hard finding rental units that would welcome
both them and their dogs.

"My wife and I have dogs," he said. "We had a lot of problems
with landlords who did not accept us because of fear of pet
damage." He believes apartment owners will be more willing to
accept tenants with pets if they know they will be reimbursed
for pet damage. Having a warranty insures that a property owner
will be paid for pet damages without tenant litigation.

Snow says the new site will open in the Atlanta market this
month and attempt to grow nationwide.

The company actually appears to be less of a dot.com company
than it is a real estate service provider. A corporate statement
said it would sell pet deposit warranties to apartment owners
and managers, as well as to pet owners who lease housing.

"These warranties will protect a landlord from potential pet
damage for up to $5,000 per unit," said Snow. "They can function
in addition to or as a replacement for a standard pet deposit,
which generally only covers minor damage."

Also, the company says pet owners can use a temporary warranty,
which is free, to try to convince unwilling landlords to accept
their pets - along with themselves - as tenants.

The pet deposit warranties will cover soiled, chewed and
destroyed carpets, linoleum, woodwork, drapes and doors for
units that house cats and dogs that are one year old or older.

The cost for one pet is $200 per year plus a one time partially
refundable deposit of $275.

Properties that already require pet deposits can benefit from
leasewithpets.com as well. These apartments can be further
protected with pet warranties, without charging tenants twice.
The properties can simply pay for the pet warranties with
already collected funds.

Snow says that according to Humane Society figures, there are
6.5 million animals living in shelters because their owners were
not allowed to keep them in rented properties. He hopes that
leasewithpets.com will "change pet acceptance in apartment
communities."

Leasewithpets.com plans to work with animal shelters nationwide
to help provide viable accommodations for pets in lieu of
homelessness. The company also plans to begin fund-raising for
pet protection with various humane societies.