Pets - Should You As a Landlord Allow Pets at Your Rental Property

One of the most popular questions asked of- Pets tend to cause more damage to homes and
property managers and landlords, does your propertyyards, and there are times when the security deposit
allow pets?won't cover the costs.
The answer to which varies person to person and- When one pet is allowed, often a second or third is
company to company. However, it is one that shouldasked for or snuck in.
not be made lightly; because, as with everything,- Unrestrained, barking or whining dogs can become a
there are pros and cons to allowing pets at yournuisance to the neighborhood.
rental property.As a landlord the choice is yours. Often, owners will
The Pros:consider a small pet, depending on the age of the
- Pet friendly rentals are rare, tenants owning petspet, breed, and how the rest of the rental application
are abundant; thus a larger pool of potential renterslooks. A major factor to consider is if the applicants
to choose from.and their pet have a good rental history from their
- Property may rent quicker due to a larger pool ofprevious landlord.
interested parties.Just beware; the following breeds of dogs are the
- Residence may stay rented longer because it is petbreeds you should think twice about allowing. Most
friendly, tenants may have trouble finding anotherhomeowners insurance companies will cancel
home accepting pets.homeowner policies if these breeds are on the
- Cats can take care of rodent problems, especiallypremises: Akita, Chow, Doberman Pinscher, German
for those homes located in the country.Shepherd, Rottweiler, Wolf Hybrid, and Pit Bull breeds
- A watch dog could deter vandalism while tenantsincluding, but not limited to: American Staffordshire
are away on vacation or at work.Terrier, Pit Bull Terrier, Staffordshire Bull Terrier,
The Cons:English Bull Terrier, and Presa Canario.