Should you allow pets in your rental property? | Profit (2023)

small72% of renters have pets, tenants are looking for pet-friendly rental properties. There are many benefits to allowing pets on your rental property, including increasing the number of potential tenants, but is it the right decision for you?

In this article, we explore the benefits and risks of leasing a pet. If you decide to allow pets, you will find details in your tenancy agreement on how to screen tenants for pets, what fees should be charged and how pets will be handled.

Benefits of Allowing Pets in Rental Properties

There are four main benefits to allowing pets on rental properties:

1. More tenants are interested in your property

By allowing pets to your rental property, you can fill vacant units faster because it expands your pool of potential tenants.

2. Charge higher rental prices, deposits, or rent pets

Owners who allow pets often make more money by charging modest fees such asPet deposit, non-refundable pet fee or pet rental。

Dorothy, the owner of Avail, said she always tries to rent out to tenants with pets because it increases rental income.

She explains: “I have 15 apartments for rent and I try to have pets in every one of them. I currently have eight units and have tenants who pay rent for pets. Having pets has increased my gross rental income by 5%, That equates to an additional $325 per month or $3,900 per year.

If I had two pets per rental, I'd make an extra $9,000 a year. My tenants with pets are generally more responsible, better renters, and stay longer than non-pet owners. All parties involved benefit from proper vetting of pet parents and their fur babies. "

3. Pet owners are responsible tenants

In most cases, pet owners must be more responsible for ensuring their pets are safe and do not damage the home. Most owners are willing to invest in training or breeding their dogs while they are away. This can alleviate some of the homeowner's concerns about potential property damage.

The dangers of allowing pets in rental properties

On the other hand, there are some risks that all landlords should consider when renting out to tenants with pets:

1.Pets can damage property

Pets can cause property damage, especially well-trained animals.

Property damage caused by pets may include:

• scratches
• chewed wood
• foul smell
• bite off a wire or cable
• Damaged Landscaping

To reduce the possibility of pets causing damage, consider adding a lease clause outlining the consequences of pet behavior causing damage to the lease.

2. pet noises

Noise may disturb other tenants or neighbors. If you allow a dog into your rental property, chances are the dog will bark when you're not disturbing it. It's wise to ask prospective tenants about your dog's barking habits, but you can also go a step further,Contact your previous ownersask neighbors if they evercomplain about noise。

3. allergic to pets

Allergens often accompany pets. This is especially true for long-haired dogs and cats that shed their hair. While the owner may agree with these allergens, others may not. Allergens spread through air conditioning vents and can also affect common areas. Therefore, it is best to have a pet policy that applies to the entire building and let all tenants know if your building allows pets. This way they will understand that allergens may be present.

4. Pet-Related Injuries

As a landlord, you don't want to be responsible for injuries caused by your tenant's pets. If you allow pets, you should toorenters insurance requiredThis includes a pet policy.

How to Screen Tenants with Pets

If you decide to allow pets, it's important to have a detailed policy and screen applicants and their pets against the rules you set out. Learn how to screen tenants with pets.

• Create a usable account:Creating an account will give you access to the tools you need for the process.
• Request a rental application and inspection report:The first step in screening tenants is to fill out an application form. Here they can declare that they have pets.
• Request training documents, vaccination status and photos:Tenants can provide this information topet resume. You can also arrange meetings with tenants and their pets to assess their character in person.
• Approve or deny the application:Once you have gathered all the information you need, you can decide to approve or reject the applicant.

Should you limit the number of pets?

Depending on the size of your property, it may be reasonable to impose a limit on the number of pets allowed. You must also follow anylocal lawAbout how many animals you can keep on the premises.

Should there be restrictions based on the breed of the dog?

While this is ultimately your decision, it's important to understand that restrictions may narrow your pool of potential tenants. Here's what one Avail renter had to say about their search for a pet-friendly rental:

"The biggest problem I've found is that with a large mixed breed dog that's considered an 'aggressive' breed, it doesn't even occur to the owner to meet the dog to see what his true personality is," shares resident Henry road. useful. "People's assumption is, 'You have a large dog with an aggressive breed in it, then that dog sucks', but that's not the case."

Rather than placing general restrictions on specific breeds, get to know your tenant's pets to gauge their temperament. This can create a more positive experience for your tenants and improve the rental company's reputation in the local community.

“We spent months looking for rentals, only to be turned down because of the type of dog we had. After months of searching, we found a kind hearted owner who did not discriminate against ours Baby," added Availa resident Janessa. "Our landlady took the time to get to know our dog and immediately decided she would have no problem living with us in this house. We are forever grateful to owners like ours."

What screening questions should you ask a tenant with a pet?

There are many questions you may have about renting with pets, but here are some of the most common and helpful questions you can ask to help you make an informed decision about renting to a pet owner:

1. How many pets do you have?
2. What is the breed and size of the pet?
3. How old is the pet?
4. How long have you had a pet?
5. Has your animal ever been aggressive towards anyone or any other animal?
6. Are you solely responsible for your pets?
7. Are pets trained?
8. Are pets up to date on vaccinations?
9. Do pets get along well with other people, other animals and children?

smallTenant Verification ServiceLike Avail, you can simplify the screening process - even for potential tenants with pets. You can make a rental request that includes relevant questions about pet ownership.

What does a responsible pet owner look like?

As you screen tenants and their pets, look for the following signs of a good pet owner:

• Their pets are trained.
• They take care of pets and are very responsible.
• They have the proper equipment (i.e. dogs need collars, leashes, harnesses, and in some cases toys).
• They enforce a pet policy.

Do emotional support animals and service animals count as pets?

Keep this in mind when you consider allowing pets on your rental propertyEmotional Support Animals (ESAs) and Assistance AnimalsThey are not considered pets.

ESAs provide emotional comfort to tenants with disabilities and properly document that ESAs and their owners are free from discrimination by third partiesfair housing law. At the same time, service animals are trained to perform tasks that their owners cannot naturallyAmericans with Disabilities Act(American Association of People with Disabilities).

In most cases, landlords must make reasonable accommodations for tenants with ESAs or pets. This includes permission to enter the property even though there is no pet policy. Qualified tenants should not be denied for owning an ESA or service animal, as this may be considered housing discrimination and may have legal consequences.

How pets are handled in rental agreements

If you allow pets, you should include the following important things in your lease:

• pet rental amount
• pet deposit amount
• Non-refundable pet fee
• Need to buy renters insurance for your rental
• Adjust rental policySo it covers the rules for picking up pets and disposing of pet waste

If you do not allow pets, you should attachterms in the leaseis also like this.

Do you need to charge pet rentals, deposits or pet fees?

First, let's distinguish between these different payment methods.

• pet rentalis the monthly rent added to the base rent price.
• onepet depositThis is the return fee paid by the tenant when they move out. The purpose of the pet deposit is to cover any damage caused by the pet. If there is no damage at the end of the tenancy, you will get your deposit back along with the normal security deposit.
• oneNon-refundable pet feeThis is the tenant's prepaid fee. This is essentially the fee you pay for allowing pets into the hotel.

You should understand the differences between these fees and their pros and cons. It's also worth noting that some owners run more than one to make sure they can handle any pet issues that arise.

What if the tenant has a pet during the tenancy?

Sometimes you can have the tenant ask for permission to bring pets after signing the lease. In these cases, include apets to addin the lease agreement.

onerent subsidyIt is a legally binding document that deals with matters not covered by the original lease. With a pet addendum, you can include your pet policy and expectations, as well as any fees or charges your tenants will need to pay.

With Avail, you can easily upload a lease addendum to your landlord profile and attach it to the relevant lease agreement. That way, you and your tenant can refer to the supplemental agreement if needed.

You may also run into situations where tenants hide their pets without notifying you. Because of situations like these, it's important to include a pet policy clause in your rental agreement. If the lease states that you are not allowed to have pets, the tenant is in breach of the lease and youreason for moving。

Manage your pet rentals with Avail

Avail has all the tools you need to advertise pet-friendly rental properties. Create a custom listing and clearly state that you allow pets. Your posts will be shared with top listing sites to increase visibility and generate quality leads.

Use the digital rental app to screen your potential tenants and create legal state-specific rental agreements to ensure protection for all parties. You can even modify or add to rental agreements at any time, and easily upload files for future reference.

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