Short answer: If you have a dog or cat and don’t want to sign a 12-month lease, your best options are furnished monthly apartments, flexible-stay providers, corporate housing, and month-to-month leases. Furnished apartments with flexible stay lengths let you avoid buying or moving furniture, while choosing a rental commitment that fits your plans. Before you book, confirm three things in writing: the pet limits (number, size, breed), every pet charge and whether it’s refundable, and what it costs to leave or extend early.
Why a 12-Month Lease Is a Poor Fit for Many Pet Owners
A traditional annual lease can be expensive to leave when your plans change. For a remote worker whose project ends in five months, a professional relocating ahead of a family move, or someone waiting out a renovation, breaking early can mean lease-break fees, a forfeited deposit, or double rent while you overlap two places. Add a pet and the pressure increases: fewer units qualify, approval takes longer, and it’s tempting to sign whatever accepts your dog.
Pet owners aren’t a niche. About two-thirds of U.S. households own a pet, and 72% of renters report difficulty finding pet-friendly housing, according to Michelson Found Animals’ Pet-Inclusive Housing Trends Report: 2025 Outlook.
Research suggests pet-related property damage is less common than many renters might expect. A summary of the 2021 Pet-Inclusive Housing Report found that fewer than 10% of pets caused any damage, at an average repair cost of $210. The 2025 outlook links pet-inclusive policies to residents staying up to 21% longer.
Your Options for Pet-Friendly Rentals Without a 12-Month Lease
Each flexible option trades cost, convenience, and commitment differently. Here’s how they compare for someone moving with a pet.
| Option | Typical commitment | Furnished? | Pet policy set by | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month-to-month lease | Renews monthly, subject to the agreement and applicable notice requirements | Usually not | Individual landlord | Staying local while plans settle |
| Furnished monthly apartment (operator-managed) | Monthly or longer, often with extension options | Yes | Operator or property, published per listing | Relocations, renovations, contract work |
| Corporate housing | Monthly, often employer-arranged | Yes | Provider | Company-sponsored moves |
| Extended-stay hotel | Nightly or weekly | Yes, but small | Hotel brand | Stays of a few weeks |
| Sublet or lease takeover | Whatever remains on the original lease | Varies | Original landlord | Short gaps in a single city |
If you’re weighing an unfurnished month-to-month lease, our guide to how a month-to-month rental agreement works covers notice periods and rent changes. For relocations, renovations, and contract work, a furnished apartment can save you the cost and effort of buying, moving, or storing furniture for a temporary stay.
How to Read a Pet Policy on a Flexible Rental
“Pet-friendly” isn’t a yes-or-no answer. It depends on who sets the rules. A furnished apartment provider may manage the booking process across properties, but pet rules can still vary by building. Check the complete policy for the apartment you’re considering. On platforms that connect you with individual owners, every listing carries its own rules.
Search filters tell you whether pets are allowed at all. They rarely show weight caps, breed exclusions, pet rent versus one-time fees, or limits on the number of animals. Open the full policy on any listing you’re serious about. For general apartment-hunting tips with a pet, see how to find a pet-friendly apartment.
Pro tip: Before you book, share your pet’s breed, weight, age, and any details the property asks for (such as vaccination records). Get written confirmation that the property accepts your pet before you reserve.
What Pet Charges Look Like on Short and Flexible Stays
Pet costs usually arrive as one or more of three charges: a refundable pet deposit, a non-refundable pet fee, or monthly pet rent. Pet charges depend on the property, the rental agreement, and applicable law. Furnished apartments may also have rules about damage to furniture. For a fuller explanation of pet deposits and fees, see Renting 101: The Purpose of a Pet Deposit — and confirm current rules for your stay type and location before you sign, since local requirements change.
On a short stay, what matters most is the total you’ll pay for the months you’ll actually be there. A one-time fee that seems small on a 12-month lease can be expensive on a three-month stay, while monthly pet rent scales with your stay. Ask for the full pet cost over your planned stay before you compare listings.
Pet Liability Coverage: What to Check Before Renting
Some properties require liability coverage for pets. Pet health insurance and liability coverage serve different purposes: health coverage pays for your pet’s vet care; liability covers injury or property damage your pet causes to others. Check whether the property requires pet liability coverage. If it does, ask your insurer whether your renters insurance (or an endorsement) meets the requirements, whether your pet’s breed is excluded, and what documentation you need.
Checklist: Before You Book a Pet-Friendly Flexible Stay
- Confirm pet limits in writing. Number of animals, weight caps, and breed restrictions.
- Total the pet costs for your actual stay. Deposit, one-time fee, and monthly pet rent — and which parts are refundable.
- Read the exit terms. Notice periods, early-termination fees, and how extensions are priced.
- Prepare requested documents. Have vaccination records and any other documents the property asks for ready before booking.
- Pet-proof the furniture. In a furnished apartment, the sofa isn’t yours. Bring covers and a familiar bed, and see our tips on keeping pets off furniture.
- Plan the move itself. Our tips for moving with pets cover travel and settling in.
How Landing Works for Pet Owners
Landing offers fully furnished apartments in 250+ U.S. cities, without a traditional 12-month lease. Here’s how it handles the questions above:
- Pets: Many Landing apartments are pet friendly. Pet rules, fees, breed restrictions, and building requirements vary by property. Use the “pets allowed” filter, read each listing’s pet details, and confirm any pet charges for that apartment before you book — don’t assume every apartment accepts every pet.
- Deposits and application fees: Direct Landing bookings do not require a traditional security deposit or application fee.
- Stay lengths: Monthly rentals suit stays of a month or more. Guests can request extensions, subject to availability and booking terms. Flex stays require a commitment of at least six months in the Landing network. Guests can save up to 30% compared with monthly rates and transfer between available Landing apartments without a transfer fee.
- Know the exit terms: Flex stays carry an early termination fee of two months’ rent if you leave the Landing network before your stay ends. If your timeline is uncertain, a monthly stay may be the better fit.
- Support: Stays are managed in the Landing app, with 24/7 support.
- Pricing: Prices are shown including fees; taxes are confirmed at checkout.
For a firsthand account of life on the road with a pet, read how one Landing member lives as a digital nomad with a dog.
Browse furnished apartments by city, then use the pets-allowed filter to find options for your stay. Compare monthly and Flex terms for the apartment you choose. No 12-month lease required.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I rent a furnished apartment with a pet without signing a 12-month lease?
Yes. Furnished monthly operators, corporate housing, and month-to-month leases can all let you rent with a pet for less than a year. Confirm the pet limits, total pet charges, and early-exit terms before you book.
Are pet fees higher for short-term furnished rentals?
Not necessarily, but structure matters more on short stays. A one-time pet fee costs more per month on a three-month stay than on a 12-month lease, while pet rent scales with your stay. Ask for the total pet cost over your planned stay.
Do I need pet insurance to rent with a dog?
Pet health insurance and liability coverage serve different purposes. Some properties may require liability coverage. Check the property’s requirements and ask your insurer whether damage or injuries caused by your dog are covered.
Does Landing allow pets?
Many Landing apartments are pet-friendly. Rules, fees, and breed or building limits vary by property. Filter by “pets allowed,” review each listing’s pet details, and confirm any pet charges before you book. For more questions, visit Landing Answers or contact customer support.
