Reasons to not allow pets at your rental property
There’s no doubt that most people enjoy having pets because if you ask the average person they will either enjoy having dogs, cats, fish, birds or other small pets.
Even though it’s normal for people to enjoy having pets, does this mean that you should allow them to live in your rental property? The answer to this question should be no.
Pet Horror Stories
Surprise!
Yup, I’ve heard plenty of stories of landlords finding dog poop in closets. Weight restrictions can be a good way to control what types of dogs live in your property, but puppies tend to start out below 25 pounds—even black lab puppies that grow up to be 70 pounds. And there is one thing that all puppies have in common—you need to teach them where they “gotta go.”
Bye Bye, Fido
I’ve heard horror stories of landlords getting complaints of an abandoned property, only to see that the tenants’ dogs had been abandoned, too. Joe Fairless posted about this a while back—the tenant left an aggressive pitbull on the property.
This poses a lot of problems for property owners. Where are the dogs going to go? How are you going to ensure that they are safe until they find a shelter or home? When will you have the time to handle this as you clean your property and get it ready for the next tenant?
With Animals Come… Other Creatures
This is another story you can talk to Joe about. A tenant had a dog with fleas that completely infested the property. And infestations require more than just replacing a carpet or doing some scrubbing in the closet.
Make sure you have top-notch pest control if you have pets. Fleas, ticks, and bugs can hop a ride on your tenants’ pets anytime. Pet food close to the floor is also a great food source for unwanted pests.
Turf Wars
These stories don’t always come from landlords. If you ask vets about letting your pet roam around an apartment complex, they’ll likely offer up their own set of concerns.
A complex with dozens of units means that dozens of pets could be present: indoor cats, outdoor cats, dogs that like cats, or dogs that don’t like cats. I’ve heard plenty of stories of a tenant’s dog biting, attacking, or even killing another tenant’s dog or outdoor cat. Unless your insurance covers this type of accident, your tenants could be left to pick up vet bills due to an animal’s aggression.
Pythons
You heard me—pythons. End of story. Also, pet rats.
The stories above don’t even include the regular problems that come with letting pets into your home. Cats with claws like to scratch up new rugs and furniture. Dogs track in mud from their afternoon walk.
A few years ago, a local carpet cleaning company played ads that just featured a dog sliding its butt along the carpet. These will all increase the costs of moving tenants and preparing your property for someone new.
Source – Bigger Pockets
Contact RPM Central Valley
To learn more reasons why you shouldn’t allow pets in your rental property, or to speak with us about the property management services we can offer you, contact us today at (209) 572-2222 or click here.