Understanding Why Pet-Friendly Properties Are Scarce
For those wishing to live in rental accommodations with pets, the biggest hurdle is "the limited number of properties." Pet-friendly rentals are said to account for roughly 10–15% of Japan's entire rental market, and they are even rarer in popular urban areas. The main reasons landlords are reluctant to allow pets are the increased costs of restoration to original condition caused by barking, odors, and claw marks, as well as the risk of disputes with other residents. Post-move-out cleaning costs often reach 1.5–2 times those of standard properties, so landlords' cautious stance has a rational basis.
However, the supply of pet-friendly properties has increased gradually in recent years. Behind this trend is the rising number of pet owners (the number of domesticated dogs and cats in Japan exceeds approximately 15 million) and a shift in owner awareness toward differentiation as a vacancy countermeasure. Additionally, pet-cohabitation-focused apartment buildings have become more common in urban areas, expanding the options with well-equipped facilities and clear management rules. With appropriate information gathering and negotiation, the possibility of finding an ideal property is certainly within reach.