Re: Dog Poop - Landlord Forum thread 357777

Re: Dog Poop by MrDan on June 18, 2018 @00:37

You might be able to change your pet policy at renewal time if every one is on a lease. If they are month to month, a 30 notice most likely will suffice.

Do not offer any tenant a reduction in rent to clean up the mess. That can open you up to a Fair Housing discrimination complaint. Besides what will you do if the tenant fails to clean up? The tenant may also be considered an employee and subject you to liability if they get hurt.

Raising the rent $30 per month may exceed what the market allows, incurring a vacancy which would cost you more than the extra money would cover.

Your best response is to inform every tenant, including the non pet owner, that you will be enforcing the proper and prompt removal of pet waste by pet owners. That those who fail to follow up by cleaning up after their pets will have the right to keep their pets rescinded. At the end of each tenants lease, you should have all pet owners sign a comprehensive pet agreement in order to continue to have a pet. Mean while hire someone to clean up the property, make surprise visits to catch owners who fail to have their pets on a lease and not cleaning up after them. Send those who fail to clean up violation notices. Those who receive X number of notices should not have their lease renewed. Just be aware that a vacancy will mean loss of rental income and cost of turn over to get the rental ready. At that point, you may be able to increase rent to or near market value.

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