30 Jan To Allow or Not to Allow Pets
If you’ve just bought your first Castle Rock rental property, there are a variety of rules that you will set for your house, one of which is whether or not to allow your tenants to have pets. This can be a hard decision, because allowing pets may damage your property, but will also attract more potential renters. This article will help you make that decision, but, if you still can’t make up your mind, try consulting with a Castle Rock Property Manager to have them explain the pros and cons of pets. Also, remember that if the animal in question is a service animal like a seeing-eye dog, then, because of the Americans with Disabilities Act, you must allow the animal because it is technically not a pet.
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The pros of allowing pets in your rental property include things like:
- Having a broader pool of tenants to choose from
- Being able to charge more for rent
- Being able to charge non-refundable pet fees
However, there are cons to allowing your tenants to have pets, such as:
- Damage resulting from animals chewing on carpet or scratching floors
- Stains and odors left behind by pets who are not properly housebroken
- Noise from animals that may disturb other nearby tenants
- Liability exposure if the tenants dog bites someone
You will have to weigh the benefits and detriments to come up with a decision on your own. However, if you do decide to allow pets, here are some tips for reducing the risks associated with them:
Limit the Types of Animals You Permit
You probably will not want your tenant to keep an alligator, so come up with a list of animals that you are comfortable having on your property, like dogs, cats, small reptiles, or birds. You also may restrict the animals allowed to certain weights and breeds, in the case of dogs. Some dogs are thought considered violent breeds and you run the risk of your homeowners insurance carrier dropping your policy if they find out your tenant has one of these dogs. For all of the Castle Rock properties managed by Integrity Realty & Management, we prohibit the following breed types: Pit Bulls, Staffordshire Bull Terriers, Akitas, Alaskan Malamutes, Chows, Doberman Pinschers, German Shepherds, Presa Canarios, Rottweilers, Siberian Huskies, and any Wolf Hybrid.
Assign Responsibility to the Owners
Obviously, the owners will be responsible for their pets’ needs, but you should draw up an agreement so that the liability for anything the pet does falls on its owner (the tenant), and not on you, as the owner of the property. Sometimes people get bitten by dogs, and sometimes people file lawsuits for this reason. You do not want to be the person being sued.
Pet Fees
Charging a pet fee helps you recoup the costs involved with any additional wear and tear repairs needed from a pet residing in your property. Bear in mind that it is illegal to charge a fee for a service animal. Also, remember to keep the fee reasonable. Otherwise, a judge has the ability to not enforce it.
Inspections
If you allow your tenant to have pets, it is important that you do frequent inspections of the interior of the property to ensure the pet is not damaging your home. While this is an important practice even if the tenants do not have pets, it is even more of a priority when they do. In the case of dogs, you should never attempt to enter the home without the tenant being present unless you know the dog is friendly and you’ve given advanced notice.
By following these tips, you should be able to avoid some of the horror stories you may hear from other landlords concerning pets and rentals.
