Leaving pets behind isn’t an option for most healthcare travelers when they take an assignment. Plus, pets can make temporary housing feel like home when traveling. Finding temporary housing with pets isn’t always easy though. Here’s our tips for finding pet friendly housing as a healthcare traveler!
Pros: Some travelers with pets choose to accept agency housing so they don’t have to worry about finding pet-friendly housing themselves. Agencies that accommodate pets in their company housing often have long-standing agreements with rental properties and landlords that make it easier to secure pet-friendly housing. Some agencies may even cover pet deposits or pet rent upfront for you!
When you go with agency secured housing, they do all the research and negotiation, so the process is very efficient and stress-free for you. So, if you don’t want the hassle of finding pet-friendly housing, choosing agency housing might be your best option.
Cons: However, agencies are less likely to provide housing options other than traditional apartments. So, shared rentals with a backyard great for dogs may not be an option. Your choices may be narrowed down, but you’re also not having to do any of the research.
Pros: Your other option is to take the housing stipend from the agency and find your own housing. This can offer more choices, and if you spend less on housing than your stipend amount, you can pocket that leftover tax-free money!
One perk of using Marketplace is that our platform has Furnished Finder built in, so you can see what housing is available when you’re browsing jobs! There’s also a great feature for pet owners where you can check the “Pet Friendly Only” box and just be shown listings that will cater to your furry friend.
Even on a pet friendly listing, it’s still a good idea to contact the landlord and make sure the space would work for you and your pet. This is because some listings are for an entire space and others are for shared spaces, where you might be renting out one room in a home. It’s important to make sure your pet will get along with the other people and other animals you may be living with in that case.
Other pet-friendly housing sites to use include:
Some hotels are also pet friendly! Look into these options:
Remember, if you stay in a hotel longer than 30 days, talk with the manager to negotiate a long-term rate. Hotels will often negotiate rates that are 30 percent to 60 percent below the advertised nightly rate when you’re staying for longer than 30 days.
Cons: It might take awhile to dig through housing listings to find the perfect place for you and your pet. You also might have to spend some extra time in correspondence with landlords to get clearance for your pet. This can be stressful the first few times, especially if you don’t have all the tools and resources listed above.
Another restriction to note is that Hawaii is strict about bringing animals into the state. They want to keep the islands rabies-free and will quarantine animals for up to 120 days if they don’t meet certain requirements. Here's what to do to meet their requirements:
To avoid additional cleaning costs, try to use preventive measures during your stay like:
Also, if you find the perfect place but the pet fee is a little too high for you, it’s worth having a conversation with the landlord and seeing if there’s any way they could lower the price. This is when it’s handy to have recommendation letters from previous landlords showcasing that your animal is well-behaved, and you left the property in good condition.
Having your furry friend with you during an assignment is essential for feeling comfortable, even when miles from home. Try these tips out the next time you’re looking for pet-friendly housing and remember Marketplace has Furnished Finder built into its platform, so you can see your housing options before you even apply for a job.