Do Apartments Allow Guinea Pigs? Let's Find Out -

Before you start keeping a guinea pig, you should also know if your pet is allowed in an apartment when you rent it.

So I did some research on this topic and found out some interesting things that I want to share so that all guinea pig owners can be better informed.

Do apartments allow guinea pigs?

Guinea pigs are usually allowed to be kept in an apartment because they do not cause material damage like some other larger pets. Sometimes it takes a little convincing some apartment owners to let you keep a guinea pig.

In today’s article, you will learn everything about renting an apartment with guinea pigs, how to convince the owner to let you keep the guinea pig, and similar issues.

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Do apartments allow guinea pigs?

In a larger percentage of apartments, it is allowed to keep guinea pigs, and in a small percentage in some it is not allowed, but still, guinea pigs are small animals that are kept in a cage, while dogs and cats are a different story.

Some apartment owners first think about whether to allow guinea pigs, but when you explain to them about their size, how clean they are, and all other things related to them, they realize that there is nothing wrong with keeping them in an apartment.

Sometimes a problem can be a special section in the agreement that states a ‘no pets policy’.

But this ‘no pets policy’ often does not have enough detailed information about which pets are allowed and which are not, or the owner himself can compile his own list of prohibited pets for keeping in the apartment.

Again, the best thing about all this is that when the apartment owners realize that the guinea pig is not at all noisy like the dogs, then they allow you to keep them in the apartment.

That is why it is necessary to explain well to the owner about your guinea pig and its behavior because some do not even know what kind of pet it is.

In the agreements where it is written that apartments are for rent, cats, and dogs are often mentioned as undesirable, while guinea pigs are almost never in the agreement.

Therefore, it can generally be concluded that guinea pigs are mostly allowed when you want to rent an apartment.

What does it take to keep a guinea pig in an apartment?

To be able to keep your guinea pig in an apartment you need to have a few basic things such as a cage, storage space, and an area to play outside the cage.

So let’s read in more detail about these main things you need to successfully keep guinea pigs in an apartment.

Cage size

To keep a guinea pig in an apartment, you need to have a suitable cage and place it in a certain place in the apartment.

Only in small apartments, you may have a little trouble providing space for the guinea pig’s cage.

Here’s what size cage you need to keep guinea pigs:

These requirements are:

One guinea pig 7.75 (ft²)
Two Guinea Pigs 12.4 (ft²)

Three Guinea Pigs 15.5 (ft²)
Four Guinea Pigs 19.63 (ft²)

Sufficient storage space

Apart from the cage you need for the guinea pigs, there should also be enough space in your apartment to store the essential things for the guinea pigs.

You need to have room for:

hay
food

bedding
toys

To gain space you can also use DIY and make a storage space under the cage itself if you use panels to make the cage.

Play area on the floor

When keeping guinea pigs in an apartment you should have enough space to let them run around on the floor.

Guinea pigs need this kind of activity to keep them happy and in good condition.

Of course, before you let them on the floor, you will have to make adequate security so that they do not get hurt and do not escape.

Should guinea pigs be kept in an apartment?

Guinea pigs should be kept in an apartment because they are easier to keep and care for than larger animals.

It is easier to keep a guinea pig in an apartment than a cat or a dog.

Guinea pigs should be kept in an apartment because they are simpler to maintain their hygiene, they groom themselves, and do not emit an unpleasant smell like other animals.

Of course, regular cleaning of the cage is necessary to prevent unpleasant odors from spreading, but in general, they are much easier to clean and maintain.

Do you have to pay extra for guinea pigs when you rent an apartment?

It all depends on the owner of the apartment, whether he will ask to pay extra for keeping guinea pigs, although in the agreements it is often written that extra is paid for dogs and cats.

Regardless of the fact that the agreements do not say about guinea pigs, you should still ask the owner of the apartment if and how much you should pay for a guinea pig.

Also, when you rent an apartment through an agency, you will again need to find out if animals or guinea pigs are allowed.

In any case, the additional payment for keeping guinea pigs in an apartment remains at the discretion of the owner.

How much does it cost to keep guinea pigs in an apartment?

If you plan to keep guinea pigs in an apartment, it is important to know how much the owner of the apartment will charge you, because it can be an unplanned additional expense.

There are two types of pet fees, namely:

pet deposit
additional pet rent

The pet deposit is a one-time deposit so you can keep pets in the apartment.

The deposit is usually around 250-400 dollars, and we must mention that this deposit is non-refundable regardless of whether your guinea pig does any damage to the apartment.

Some states in the United States require that this deposit be returned and that it be regulated by law.

Additional pet rent is another type of payment for pets such as guinea pigs or other animals such as dogs, in that it is paid with each month’s rent.

This payment method is the most common form and ranges from 10 – 50 dollars.

Many apartment owners use this type of payment because it will not hurt the budget of those who want to rent an apartment.

Should you tell your landlord you want to keep guinea pigs?

Whenever you plan to rent an apartment you should be fair and honest with the owner of the apartment and say that you intend to keep a guinea pig.

You need to be honest and report your guinea pig because otherwise the landlord may sue you or ask you to pay for breaking the agreement by not reporting your pet.

Because in such a case, you are lying to the owner and that is not a good idea at all, and honestly, the owner of the apartment will find out that you keep a pet.

If you try to keep the guinea pig unannounced, then you will be under stress all the time, because you will be afraid whether the owner of the apartment will find out about your pet or not.

My recommendation is, to be honest and report the guinea pig to the owner of the apartment, that’s right and fair.

How do you convince your landlord to let you keep a guinea pig?

When you need to rent an apartment and keep guinea pigs you will often find the landlord saying that pets are not allowed.

However, once you talk to the owner of the apartment and explain to him that these are guinea pigs, they will usually allow you to keep them.

But sometimes you will need to take certain steps that will help you convince some apartment owners to let you keep them.

So here are some tips on what to do:

Show pictures of the guinea pig cage

When you talk to the landlord show him pictures of the guinea pig cage so he knows they won’t do any harm.

Then the owner of an apartment will be convinced that keeping a guinea pig in an apartment will not cause material damage, and he will be able to agree more easily and allow you to keep it.

The best thing in the pictures is that the guinea pig cage should be clean and free of excrement or similar waste so as not to leave a bad impression on the owner.

Make a detailed description of the guinea pig

Many rental apartment owners do not keep guinea pigs and do not know how to maintain and care for them.

But if you explain to them that guinea pigs are kept in a cage and that they will not do any harm, then the owner may change his mind and more easily agree to let you keep such a pet.

You should describe in detail to them that the guinea pigs clean themselves and there is no danger of unpleasant odors and similar problems in the apartment.

Previous pet reference

A pet reference is a letter from a previous landlord describing the guinea pig as being well-behaved and not causing any property damage.

This goes a long way in convincing the apartment owner that your little pet really won’t cause any problems if kept in an apartment.

A pet reference for guinea pigs is much easier to get from a previous landlord, while for cats and dogs, it is a little more difficult.

Create a document in writing

If the owner of the apartment allows you to keep a guinea pig, it is very important that you do everything you have agreed orally in writing.

This is important so that when you make a lease agreement, the owner of the apartment does not avoid writing your pet, because then he can say at any moment that he did not allow you to keep a pet.

The written agreement is a guarantee that the owner of the apartment has agreed to everything you have agreed on orally.

FAQs

Are guinea pigs too loud for apartments?

Guinea pigs are very quiet animals that are not at all loud to keep in an apartment. Unlike dogs, they are very quiet and will certainly not disturb your neighbors.

How do you take care of a guinea pig in an apartment?

Keeping guinea pigs in an apartment requires a suitable cage and a place on the floor where they can run and play. They can’t be locked in a cage all day, you need at least half an hour a day to let them run around so that they are happy and to be healthy, and in good condition.

Where in the apartment is best to keep guinea pigs?

The best place to keep guinea pigs in the apartment is in a place that has good ventilation, has light, and is not exposed to direct sunlight. It is best to keep them in the room where you spend the most time during the day so that they do not feel neglected and lonely.

Conclusion

Keeping guinea pigs in apartments is usually allowed, although there are rare situations when some apartment owners may prohibit you and not accept them.

Guinea pigs are not like dogs and cats, they do not cause material damage in an apartment, and therefore you usually have to have a positive response from the apartment owners.

In any case, when you rent an apartment and the owner of the apartment will not initially allow keeping guinea pigs, you need to convince him that your pet will not cause harm.

Some owners don’t even know what the care and keeping of guinea pigs looks like, but once you explain to them that everything will be fine, you shouldn’t have any problems keeping them in an apartment.