In the United States, almost 50 million households own dogs, and another 30 million own cats. Between these and other animals, there are tens of millions of responsible pet owners throughout the country. But something many people don't consider is the homes where these pet owners will live!
It's a good idea to have more options for potential renters, and there are plenty of pet owners to choose from! But how can you create pet-friendly rentals while ensuring they don't get damaged? Read on for everything you need to know!
Why Bother With Pet-Friendly Rentals?
One of the biggest boons to allowing pets in your rentals is that you open up your properties to so many more potential renters. You might have the perfect tenants looking at your property, but if they need a place for their dog and you don't allow pets, they're going to live elsewhere.
And if you already have tenants living in your properties, they may eventually want to get pets on their own. Don't make them choose between your rental and a lovable pet, or you might see them leave when it's time to renew!
If you're wondering whether or not to accept tenants who have service animals, see this link for more information. https://carolinaspropertymanagement.com/blog/help-should-i-rent-to-people-with-support-animals
Making It Work for Management
However, with all of the benefits does come the danger of damage to your property. There are a few things you can do to help mitigate these risks if you decide to allow pets in your rental properties. Even after you've run a background check, you still want to make sure your tenants can take care of their pets!
One of the most crucial steps is to create a pet deposit or pet fee for a rental. This will allow you to spell out your restrictions and rules for pets and put everything into writing to ensure everyone is on the same page. Even if the tenants don't have a pet when they move in, you may want to add a pet document that spells out the steps and restrictions if they ever get one.
You should also consider including clauses that require pet approval, as well as vet records, breed and weight info, and even a photo of the pet. This will not only help you ensure the pets are a good fit for the property but the owners as well! And of course, requiring a pet deposit for cleaning and repairs will go a long way toward ensuring your unit is cleaned when your tenants move out.
Making It Work for Renters
While the restrictions and rules around pets can be important and beneficial, they can also feel stifling to tenants, so bear that in mind when setting things up! You don't want to make things unnecessarily complicated and frustrate or frighten away your potential renters. For example, don't raise your apartment pet fee overly high, and keep a reasonable amount if you require a non-refundable pet deposit.
While outlining the responsibilities of pet owners, make sure you're not overly restrictive! Animals like fish and birds are seldom nuisances, for example, and you shouldn't require your tenants to report it every time their child brings home a goldfish.
And be understanding of the fact that animals naturally cause a bit of a mess! They can't help shedding, and while responsible owners will take care of the hair, dirt, and other things, there is only so much they can do while living there. There's a reason for the pet deposit, but you still want to keep reasonable expectations for the property in mind.
If you're renting an apartment and want to discover the rules regarding pets, click here.
Learn More About Property Management!
Creating pet-friendly rentals can take some work, but the result is a more welcoming community with more options for great renters! Try to balance the needs of the rental property managers with the tenants' needs, and you'll be amazed at how amicable the whole process can be!
If you'd like to learn more about setting up a pet-friendly rental or property management in general, contact us! We'd be happy to help you with any property management and rental concerns you may have.
