The number of pet owners increases. This influx in pet ownership has even led to more businesses catering to pets nowadays. You can also observe that this trend extending to rental accommodations that welcome tenants with pets.
Landlords must, therefore, consider adjusting to this trend and be open to offering a pet-friendly rental unit. Having an open pet policy contributes to a higher income and gaining more prospective tenants. But landlords also need to perform a meticulous pet screening to protect their rentals from damage.
If you don’t have a pet screening system in place, you can end up dealing with noise complaints, injuries from aggressive pets, and property damage. Creating a pet screening procedure is vital when you plan to be a pet-friendly rental space.
Before you allow a renter to reside in your rental property, you always assess if they have a good tenant history. This should, therefore, also applies to pets. You want to ensure that their pets are disciplined and that their health condition, behavior, and personality meets your standard. You can screen the pets or hire a professional to do it on your behalf. You can screen pets through in-person meetings, requesting a submission of application forms, and health screening documents.
Here are some of the benefits of renting to a tenant with a pet:
You can start by crafting a questionnaire to learn the essential information about pets. Ask questions like:
You want to learn the following information from the tenant who owns a dog:
You want to learn the following information from the tenant who owns a cat:
Once the application is submitted by the potential renter, you can proceed with a face-to-face meeting
Though the questionnaire reveals vital information, nothing can replace an in-person pet screening. For one thing, you need to verify if the information provided is accurate. Note that while conducting an in-person screening, you should manage your expectations. Pets may appear nervous when a stranger interacts with them. If you lack experience in screening pets, you can opt to engage a third-party service provider to complete the pet screening procedure.
Landlords should remember to include pet policies and clauses with the lease or rental agreement. Make sure it has the following information:
Ensure that you screen all types of pets to avoid any discrimination issues. What’s more, changes can also occur throughout the year so requiring pet owners to submit updated documents when they renew the lease is a good practice. Screening pets when a renter renews is typically simpler in comparison to the initial pet screening. But monitoring the pet’s health is vital to avoid any issues later on.
Each state has its own laws when it comes to service animals and their rights. You can request potential tenants to get a letter from a health professional when they’re bringing in a service animal. Note that you can’t access the renter’s medical records or require a pet deposit. If damage happens outside wear and tear, you can, however, ask the tenant to pay for repairs.
Screening pets requires costs and collecting pet fees. However, service animals are exempted from them. Make sure to be aware
of what the local laws are before stating any pet fees, pet rent, or pet deposit in your
lease agreement.
In general, three types of pet fees can be charged:
To combat the risks of accepting pets, develop a solid pet screening procedure. If you’re looking for a trusted property manager to handle your pet-friendly rental, contact Advantage Realty Services today!
