Advantages of Allowing Pets
Allowing pets in your establishment would automatically address the needs of pet owners who are looking for pet-friendly places to live in. You’d have more potential pet-owning tenants who would want to rent a unit in your building. Furthermore, tenants are more likely to renew their rentals and continue staying in your areas since it’s relatively difficult for them to find another pet-friendly rental. Now, if you’ve decided to allow pets, here are some tips as well as a few other things to consider:
Make the Rules
As with all tenant contracts, it’s important to have a list of rules with regards to pets to prevent to safeguard you, your property, and other tenants. These rules should be part of the contract which the tenant should agree to and sign before renting. You should have very specific policies when it comes to pets that are allowed in the apartment.
Type of Pets. For one, you should determine which type of pets are allowed as there are pet owners who have pets other than dogs and cats, such as fishes, birds, rabbits, and hamsters, and more exotic ones such as reptiles and arachnids.
Number of Pets. You should also specify the maximum number of certain types of pets — this is to minimize noise and potential damage, as well.
Dog Breeds. For dogs, it’s important to be wary of certain breeds; different states have Breed-specific legislation which prescribes which breeds are deemed dangerous and illegal to own. A safe way to convey this banning of dog breeds is by putting a weight and height requirement, which helps you ban dangerous breeds from the property without naming them outright (and avoid backlash).
Visiting Pets. There should also be rules with regards to allowing additional pets from friends or family who will be staying over, and if any additional pets staying in temporarily are subject to pet fees.
Tenant Responsibilities. There should also be rules as to how the pet owner should be responsible with regards to their pets, this includes strict rules on having pets on a leash whenever outside the unit, cleaning up after the pets, having appropriate cages for certain animals, and also any additional insurances and deposits, as well as penalties for damages or breaking the rules.
Meet The Animals
Before you allow the tenant to sign the contract, it’s important that you insist on meeting the pet(s) first. This is to ensure that the pet and breed they’re disclosing is indeed the one they’re bringing in and to see if the pet is indeed friendly and/or well-trained and disciplined. It could be problematic for you and the other tenants if the pets are rowdy or aggressive, or disturb sleeping tenants through consistent barking and making other noises.
Charge a Pet Fee and Deposit
A pet fee is an added charge in allowing a pet into the apartment, which somehow also incentivizes those who wish to rent but don’t own pets. Deposits are required to cover for any potential damages such as scratches, stains, and so on in the property.
Prepare Your Apartment
Lastly, your apartment itself should physically be friendly for pets. This means adding fences to prevent pets from straying away and also serve as an added security feature. You can also decide whether or not to have the units carpeted (as they are a nuisance to clean up for you and the tenant). You may also want to consider the types of plants in your apartment’s garden and lawn as many plants are toxic to cats and dogs. So, when hiring local commercial landscaping services in Sacramento, make sure to ask them to avoid having planting pet-toxic plants and also to consider pet safety in the lawn or garden’s design.
Conclusion
A pet-friendly apartment is hard to find, which allowing pets into your establishment can be quite beneficial. Just make sure that you follow these tips and take note of these considerations when you’re opening your apartment doors to pets.
