There's the one about the owner who said he allowed animals only later to be horrified to find a horse in the apartment. There's the one about a cobra that got loose. And of course, the dog that stunk up the place. While laws and policies have made it increasingly easy for those in federal and state subsidized housing to own pets, finding private sector landlords who allow animals is becoming more and more difficult in the Boston area, real estate professionals and prospective tenants say. And often, when a pet owner tries to find an apartment or even purchase a condominium, having animals precludes them from moving in.
Rentals are even harder.
Most landlords don't want to rent to someone who has a pet. The tightening of the rental market has enabled landlords to be more choosy about their tenants - and the kind of pets they have, if any, rental brokers and property owners say. In the late 1980s and early 90s, when landlords did just about anything to avoid vacancies, allowing pets was an easy way to attract tenants. The management company originally allowed cats and dogs until about two years ago. Some residents were complaining about owners not picking up after their dogs and with occupancy reaching comfortable levels, Lincoln Heights banned canines outright.