There are many prospective renters who own pets and would love to find a pet friendly property.
Landlords can understandably have reservations about allowing pets, but being pet friendly can have several advantages:
- It can attract more interest in your property as it opens up to a whole new sub-section of tenants.
- Tenants with pets are likely to stay for a long period as there is lack of rentals that are pet friendly.
- Tenants are often prepared to pay more for pet friendly homes.
If you are contemplating allowing tenants with pets, here are some tips for creating a pet friendly rental.
Meet the Pet
It is a good idea to meet the pet first before agreeing to a tenancy. By doing this you will be able to see if the pet is friendly, trained and well-behaved. You can also see if they have a good relationship with the owners, for example if they listen when they are told to do something.
Enquire About the Pet
Prepare a set of questions to ask the pet owners. Suggestions are:
- What breed is the pet?
- How old are they?
- Have they caused any home damage?
- Are they destructive when left alone?
- Are all vaccinations up to date?
By asking these questions you can get an idea about whether the type of pet a person has would be a good fit in your rental. If the prospective tenants have rented before you could ask their previous landlord for a pet reference.
Specify Which Pets are Allowed
Detail which types of pets you will accept in your property listing such as “small dogs and cats only, 2 pets maximum”. By being clear about this it avoids any people with unacceptable pets enquiring about your rental. For instance if you are letting a small one bed apartment this may not be suitable for a large dog.
Insert a Pet Clause (see below re: Let’s Go Let Pet Agreement)
Make sure you include a pet clause in the tenancy agreement. It should declare that any damage caused by the pet is the responsibility of the tenant to correct.
Property Features
Consider some options which may be better suited for a pet household.
- Replace carpets with laminate, vinyl or tiles. If the pet sheds or has muddy paws this can be easily cleaned on these types of flooring.
- Choose furniture in darker colours.
- If there is a real fire buy a fireguard for safety.
Secure Garden
If your property has a garden check it is suitable for pets. Make sure it is secure and has no escape routes. Look for any unsafe areas such as a pond and restrict access to the area.
By following these actions you can find your ideal tenants and the perfect pet for your rental.
At Let’s Go Let we have a “Pet Agreement” document that the tenant has to sign.The terms and conditions signed by the tenants confirms that they will:Keep their pet under controlNot leave their pet for unreasonable periods of timeDispose of their pets’ waste properly and quicklyKeep their pets from being unnecessarily noisy or aggressiveNot breed their petsPay for any damage caused by their pets (including pest infestation)