Almost half of American households have dogs. Renting to pet owners expands your potential tenant market. Pet owners add unique challenges to renting, though.
What difficulties come with renting to pet owners? How do you keep pets in a rental property safe and manageable?
We want to give you the key answers to those questions. If you're new to managing tenants with pets, keep reading. We'll cover everything you need to know.
1. Establish Clear Policies for Pets in a Rental Property
Pet-friendly rental strategies require creating clear policies, and some first-time landlords don't recognize the necessity. Will you allow all dogs or just those under 50 pounds? What about cats?
Rental pet policies must avoid ambiguity and guide what you'll allow. At the bare minimum, your pet policy should tell tenants:
- Whether they can have pets in apartments
- Any breed, weight, or species restrictions
- Fees, deposits, and other financial concerns
Remember that assistance animals, such as service dogs, can require accommodations irrespective of your pet policy. Landlords in Pennsylvania, as in all states, must follow the guidelines set by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
2. Documentation, Documentation, Documentation
When dealing with pets, rental property management should take the time to document every step of the process. Here, we'll look at each step that you should consider getting in writing. If you don't want to deal with that paperwork, consider contacting a property management company.
Pet Screening
You should screen prospective tenant pets as part of the intake process. This can include having tenants post profiles of their pets to a third-party website or attaching them as part of a rental application.
When you look at a tenant's pet profile, you should consider vaccinations, grooming, and overall apparent health. While not all pet owners send their dogs to obedience school, a record of obedience training can indicate that a pet will treat the property well.
Pet Agreement
Most landlords require a separate pet agreement as part of the move-in process for tenants with pets. Pet agreements stipulate the terms under which the pet will be allowed in the property.
Consider the risks inherent to having animals on the premises. If your rental property has amenities like pools or laundry rooms, you may disallow the pet from accessing those facilities.
3. Require Insurance
Many rental insurance policies cover pet-related damages. In many cases, you'll already request that the tenant get insurance, so requiring the insurance to cover pets doesn't add much to the rental process.
A Pet Issue
Pets in a rental property can add life and joy to tenants' lives, but they do require some care. Always take the time to set clear standards for pet ownership in your units. Responsible pet owners will adhere to any rules and guidelines you set.
If you want to take the hassle out of handling tenants with pets, contact us at The Burgh Property Management. Our business makes up part of a franchise with more than two decades of operation, and we can deal with any part of the process from tenant screening to eviction. If you think you need our services, we can provide a free rental analysis.
