Steelbridge Realty LLC: October 2019

Should You Allow Pets in Your Rental Property? Being a landlord means making tough decisions. You want your tenants to be happy and stay long-term, but their pets may cause damage to the property. It’s your house but it’s their home. How do you balance these concerns?

Pets in Your Rental: People Are Willing to Pay Higher Rent for Pets

It’s a good idea to consider a higher rent for pets and to seek a pet deposit. Even the most responsible pet owner and the best-trained pet can bring in fleas or have an accident on the carpet. When the tenant moves out, you want to be able to recoup the cleaning and repairs if the home is damaged. Be sure to include a line about pets in the lease so you have protection if you find animal damage. It’s also critical that you check for pets on every inspection. One litter box, poorly managed, can be a big headache for a landlord when the tenant moves out. If you have a “no pets” policy in place and find that the tenant has broken it, you have options such as asking for an addition to the deposit or amending the lease to bump up the rent.

Pets in Your Rental: Small Animals Don’t Do Damage

An animal that lives in a cage or tank within the home, such as a bird, gerbil or reptile, can be an ideal option. Tenants and their families can enjoy contact and bonding with an animal without putting your investment at risk. Regardless of any size restrictions on your pet policy, make sure to schedule regular inspections to head off any pet damage early. Birds in a cage aren’t necessarily destructive to the home, but some birds scatter seeds everywhere, and an untidy tenant with a bird can quickly invite pests such as mice into your property.

Pets in Your Rental: What About Larger Pets?

Larger pets often require more work at the end of the lease. Because larger pets tend to shed lots of hair and dander, cleaning up the home after the tenant moves out will need to be more thorough and may require a flea treatment. Understand that you also have responsibilities outside the home if you allow pets. Carefully inspect any fencing in place around the yard where the pet will live. You want to be sure the fence is continuous, and gates are secure. A landlord may be held liable for a tenant’s dog attack if the landlord fails to repair a broken backyard gate. Be sure to inspect both the house and the yard used by the pet to make sure that waste is being picked up in a timely fashion. If the tenant is responsible for mowing, inspect the property regularly to make sure that the grass is kept short to reduce the risk of fleas in the home. Pets add to our quality of life. Implementing a “no pets” policy may make it harder to rent your property but allowing pets may leave you with a sizable cleanup or repair bill. Carefully review the rental history of a prospective tenant to make sure they’re a responsible pet owner before renting your property to them. If you’re looking for a new property to rent out, take a look at our listings!

Steelbridge Realty LLC is a Licensed Real Estate Brokerage that utilizes cutting-edge marketing techniques and data-driven Real Estate solutions in today’s ever-changing environment. Our group of professionals have decades of experience and have navigated through many business cycles. Our diverse background gives us the tools to guide people towards successful decisions.

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