05 Apr How to Add a Pet to Your Lease
Anytime we have a prospective new resident inquiring about renting a property from us and that prospective resident already has a pet, they usually are sure to ask about our pet policies upfront. But what if you don’t have a pet when you originally move in, and then later on would like to have a furry friend?
We commonly get an email from our current residents asking, “Would it be okay if I got a dog [or cat]?”
The answer is “Maybe.”
Here is the process to gain approval of a new pet. This process needs to be followed PRIOR to obtaining the pet and it is advised that you not purchase or otherwise agree to adopt/take on a pet until you have received written approval from us.
Contents
STEP 1 – Determine if you live in a pet friendly property
The first step is to determine if the property is a pet approved property. You can quickly do this by looking at the last advertisement information for the property that we listed in Zillow.
- Go to Zillow.com
- Search for you property address
- Read the ad text and see if it mentions anything about pets being allowed or not.
If the advertisement specifically mentions “no pets”, “pets not allowed”, or something similar, your property is unfortunately not approved for pets under any circumstance.
If you can’t find this information online, you can always ask your property manager.
Once you’ve determined that your property is pet friendly, this does not mean you can move in the pet. Proceed to the next step…
STEP 2 – Review pet approval criteria
Read our pet approval criteria by going to https://integrityrm.net//for-tenants/qualification-guidelines/ and scroll down to the section heading “PET ACCEPTANCE POLICIES”. This section lists what kind of pets may be approved and which ones are not approved. It also lists the deposit and fees associated with having a pet
STEP 3 – Make a formal written request for approval of pet
If your property is approved for pets and you believe the pet you plan to obtain will meet our pet criteria, the next step is to email your property manager with your formal request to add a pet to your lease and provide the specifics of the pet so that the property manager can consult with the landlord to get final approval. This request can simply be an email and in it you’ll need to include the following specifics to the extent you know them at the time of request:
- Pet Type (Dog, Cat, Other)
- Breed
- Age (at time the pet will be obtained)
- Weight (full grown)
- Pet’s Name
STEP 4 – Finalizing paperwork and fees
If your request is approved, your property manager will notify you of such and you will soon thereafter receive a Pet Addendum to your lease that you will need to review and sign. This will lay out your contractual requirements to take care of the pet, be responsible for any damage to the property caused by the pet, pay certain pet deposits and/or fees, and carry adequate liability insurance to cover any pet related injury to others.
The Pet Addendum is strictly endorsed and, considering that it’s a pretty short document, you should read it in detail to ensure you fully understand your requirements as a pet owner in one of our properties.
Our current pet deposit, fees and/or pet rent are listed on our qualifications page referenced in Step 2 above.
STEP 5 – Pet Comes Home
After all prior steps are completed, you’ve signed the Pet Addendum and paid the associated deposits/fees, you can welcome your new pet home.
