Are you unsure about whether or not to allow pets in your rental property? There are both responsible and irresponsible pet owners so it can be difficult to decide if it’s worth the risk of an animal potentially damaging your property. While there is no clear cut answer, hopefully we can give you an idea of what is going to be right for you.
The downsides to allowing pets
It’s very simple, not only can they bring damage to the property in many forms, but they can also leave a distinct scent that will be very hard to remove. They might even scratch or pee on the walls, something that can lead to major costs as well. Dogs could potentially cause disturbances with neighbors and could be considered a liability if not trained and handled properly. The last thing you want is to have extra maintenance or costs to deal with, so it’s definitely good to think it out before agreeing to allow pets in your property.
The upsides to allowing pets
Allowing pets will give you access to a larger pool of prospective tenants as well as potentially having longer average tenancy rates. It can be difficult to find rentals that allow pets, so if you do allow them this can be a great advantage to your tenants and encourages them to stay. There is also the fact that you can charge either a higher rent rate or add a monthly pet fee for each pet in the home. At the end of the day, if you find a responsible pet owner, they will most likely be a responsible tenant as well.
The Grandin Agency Pet Policy
We treat homes with shared walls between units as no-pet homes. This policy helps keep down excessive complaints and issues.
All of the single family properties we handle are advertised as being no-pet properties for the first two weeks. If we haven’t yet found a tenant after the first two weeks, then pet owners will be able to rent the property, but there will be some restrictions. If you rent the property, you can bring only a maximum of 2 dogs. Their weight should be less than 50 lbs. Also, the animal needs to be covered by a renter insurance policy. You will also need to pay a $25 fee/month/pet. This fee is necessary as it will cover any potential issues caused by your dog, if any. We do not allow cats and we don’t require any additional security deposit.
If you are a landlord and want to rent your property, adding a policy about pets can be an excellent idea. You should consider all ups and downs of allowing pets on your rental property before making your final decision. We can help you find responsible pet owners after the first two weeks of advertising as being a no-pet property or you can just avoid the hassle and stop any tenants from bringing in animals to your property. The choice is completely up to you!
