Why Do You Need Tenant Landlord Pet Agreements?

One of the largest reasons tenants and landlords fall out is over pets. Finding affordable property in a nice area that allows pets is very hard to achieve. As a landlord, if you can be firm but fair with your pet policies then you will have happy tenants. If you can manage to set guidelines and boundaries for pets right from the start, then many tenants will follow these and be happy that they know exactly what they can and cannot have.

Many landlords base their decisions regarding pets on the size or breed of the animal. There is a really bad misconception that all big dogs will damage property and smaller dogs will not. This is not necessarily true and each dog and situation should be looked at individually and then assessed.

Always ensure that you write down your policies clearly in a pet agreement form and never enter into a verbal agreement with your tenant, as this can cause problems further down the line. If you do change your mind regarding your policies, then ensure you change the agreement to state clearly the reasons you have changed them.

Often the monthly payments for a rental property allowing pets is higher and tenants will be expected to pay a higher damage deposit. This deposit will cover scratches and stains to the furniture, walls, and carpets, among other things. Some tenants feel this is fair as they know their pet is well behaved and won’t cause damage. If the tenant does not want to pay such a deposit, then you may have to question their reasons.

A responsible pet owner will know how to look after their pets and will probably look after your property as well. Some landlords like pets in their homes because cats will often deter rodents and dogs act as a great burglar system.

However, some insurance companies will be more inclined to cancel the policy if certain bigger breeds live in the house. Breeds such as Dobermans, Rottweilers and Bull terriers are all frowned upon and can cause greater damage to the property, making insurance companies wary. Even if your policy is to allow such pets you will need to consider the insurance on the property if something did go wrong. Smaller dogs can also cause damage and it is wrong to presume the size is the factor behind the damage. Looking at the tenant’s overall history and speaking to their previous landlord will determine if the reason for the move was the pet’s fault.

If you do decide to allow pets in your rental property then there are some basic guidelines that could save you a fortune in the long run. Ensure that the tenant has all of the recent vaccinations and certificates for their pets; this not only shows the insurance company that the pet is healthy and free of disease but that the owners are responsible people.

Making your property pet friendly is a great way to ensure there are no problems. Using easy to clean flooring rather than carpet is a good first step. If you do some basic improvements you should have a great relationship with your tenants, and remember pet owners will pay more for pet friendly houses.