Future pets - Landlord Forum thread 323016

Future pets by J (FL) on August 18, 2014 @12:43

How do you guys handle tenants who have no pets at lease signing, and then a week or a month after they move in they request to get a dog? I have had this happen twice and said "no". On the one hand it seems kind of unfair because I do allow pets as a necessary evil, on the other hand I might have chosen those tenants at least partially because they said they don't have any pets. What do other people do in this situation? Thanks.

[ Reply ] [ Return to forum ]

Re: Future pets by Garry (Iowa) on August 18, 2014 @13:29	[ Reply ]

Either say NO! again, or if you would consider a pet, get an extra $400 on the deposit, plus an extra $25 per month for it. Also, require it to be at least a year old, so its out of the puppy or kitten stage, it should be spayed or neutered, and have all up to date shots, before it comes in the door. It also should (for a dog) be friendly, under 40 lbs, and not an aggressive breed.

Re: Future pets

Re: Future pets by Bill on August 18, 2014 @13:32	[ Reply ]

Somehow, at the lease signing you are not getting the "no pets" part across. You can simply say "somehow this is the hardest point in the lease to get across. No pets means no pets." Print that part in red, bold capital letters. Follow up by saying "if you have any intention of acquiring a pet, this is not the place for you."

Re: Future pets

Re: Future pets by Garry (Iowa) on August 18, 2014 @15:41	[ Reply ]

Allowing pets or not, is all about risks vs rewards. LLs take NO risks of pet damage if the don't allow ANY pets, period! If they want to take SOME risk, then the rewards should be there to compensate for that risk. If they can get more rent, or keep more of their units filled by allowing pets, while still having a say on some restrictions about the pets, then, as a LL, its up to you. Its no different than gambling or playing the stock market. The higher the risk, the higher the reward should be. Surveys have shown that 50% of all households all over the country own a pet. I am not willing to automatically say NO to that many people, just because they have a pet. There are a couple of 200 unit apartment complexes in my area who advertise they will take pets, with restrictions and higher rents. Guess what? They take on a higher risk, but they get a higher rent, and have a lot lower vacancy rate than the other complexes in town. So, bottom line is, there is no right, wrong, or correct answer about pets. Its simply about the risk.

Re: Future pets