If you allow pets in your rentals, what guidelines, rules, fees, and deposits do you require? Do you have any limitations on size and types of pets? What do you do if the pet shows up after they move in?

I am interested in hearing as well...

No pets/No smoking......No exceptions.

My leases include Pet Violation charges: $200 for the 1st day and $25 per day thereafter. I try to make it VERY clear to our tenants at the time that they sign the lease that there will be no exceptions and that violation charges will be enforced.

I do routine maintenance checks so it's not likely they'll get away with it.

I know that sounds harsh, it's all in the way you explain it to the tenant(s). I spend a lot of money making sure that my properties are in good condition and just want to make sure they stay that way.

I have heard from professional property managers that dogs are ok sometimes but cats usually aren't ever a good idea. I think with a large deposit pets could be fine but no smoking is always a must.

Its great if you can keep your property occupied and hold the line on no pets. Unfortunately this doesn't apply to your average rental property. Think about it like this... Approx 65% of the poplulation has some type of pet. If you don't allow them, you are now left with only 35% of the population to rent to. That can make things tough if you are in a competitive rental market.

Yup. We are major dog people ourselves so we do allow pets as long as the tenant pays extra deposit $ & everything else, ie credit & income check out.

Back in the day many yrs ago I when I was a renter & had large dogs (still do)& I appreciate the many landlords who allowed them.

What about, seeing eye dogs, or companion pets? You guys that say no pets, what do you do in that instance?

ADA prohibits discrimmination if the dog ameliorates any type of disability. IOW you can't exclude service dogs.

Oh, I didn't write what I meant very well, sorry. I was moreso thinking, is there a bigger than norm deposit, or something.

ADA prohibits discrimmination if the dog ameliorates any type of disability. IOW you can't exclude service dogs.
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The Loan Diva

I never had to give the ADA a second thought. My moral compass told me to go ahead and allow my hearing impaired new tenant his 2 dobermans. But then they took advantage of us, and pulled up in the U-haul with 5 dogs of all different breeds for this little two bedroom place. Im pretty lived about their ha ha go jump in a lake attitude were here now, buddy. We want to either tell them to move out or get ready of every non human occupant there.

Sorry, I must have been too sleepy. I meant to say get rid of the non-human occupants.

I never really understood why people do rent to people with animals considering there will almost certainly be more wear and tear in the unit. However, when you said that 65% of the population has pets it makes it a little easier to understand. However, have any of you ever had serious troubles renting when you impose the no smoking / no pets rule? I think it makes longer term sense to not allow pets / smoking. Can't really see a major upside to allow it.

They have been in less than a month and its a total nightmare. It is my fathers guesthouse on his land. Since last week, we have learned they have been evicted from every place they have rented due to non payment of rent and dogs. One of the dobermans has attacked another dog seriously injuring it at the last place. When served with an eviction in an owner occupied duplex, they assembled the dobermans in the first floor vestibule and the poor little old man who owned the place couldnt access his unit upstairs. He had to move in with relatives until the eviction was over. They have also had three homes forclosed.

But I learned today, there is so little we can do. Dogs in Rockford, IL are "personal property" even though they are in violation of the lease. They get booted when the tenant finally has exhausted all appeals. Animal services wont retrieve the dogs even if they are 3 over their limit per ordinance. The lawyer said the earliest likely court date might be January. So theoretically this #$%#$^ could bring an additional dog home every night and just flip us the bird.

This lease was not done through my company obviously. But it is ironic in Illinois someone can be prosecuted for welfare fraud, academic fraud, perjury in court etc. But they can lie their @$$ off on the application and only be sued for non-payment or damages to the apartment. She didnt belong there in the first place! She said NO to judgements, NO to evictions, NO to convictions and NO to foreclosures. And she has a file a half inch thick I printed out of all of them.

I have recently started managing a mixed-use building for some out of area owners (three apartments, two store-fronts). Two of the apartment renters were there when I inherited the management. I find out today that one tenant that I have yet to meet because she's never there when I'm there, has two dogs. This building is for sale, and a prospective buyer got to see this mystery unit. He says the dog stench is incredible and the carpets are ruined. Now another tenant tells me that the dog-owner allows the dogs to urinate off the side of one of the porches in the winter. Obviously, I've got to get in that unit asap. Another tenant has a cat, that doesn't seem to be a problem. Of course, the only tenant who hasn't had a pet up to now (but who just got a kitten) wants to know how come her lease says no pets, but everyone else has one? I can see this is an issue that will be occupying my time this coming week. I have informed the owners that we have a problem here, and we need to do something about it. It's so much easier to have a no-pet policy from the onstart, instead of trying to deal with it later.

We charge a pet deposit per pet plus a monthly pet fee.
Deposit is based on which house and how much it costs to recarpet with cheap berber divided by 5. Monthly fee per pet is $25 - $50. No pets over 25#, limit two and cannot be a breed excluded by our State Farm policys. We also have the tenant sign that they carry liability insurance that covers the actions of their pet.
Jim

I only allow dogs and it is a case by case decision. Nothing like Doberman or German Shepard. Mainly dogs under 25#. But I do require renters insurance and have me named as secondary covered. In the instance a neighbor comes over and sticks their finger through the fence and gets bit, the renters insurance kicks in first protecting us the rental owner before we would have to file a claim. Besides, renters insurance is very advantageous for landlords and is a great thing to require!

I agree with the 25 pound dog rule. It keeps out aggressive breeds.

I do think you are relying too heavily on the renters having or keeping insurance. Short of having them produce proof of insurance every year, you can't be assured they do have a policy in effect. Plus, if that neighbor gets bit you are also getting sued (don't fool yourself).

Thanks for your note Scott. I do allow pets in my rentals, but just ask for an extra deposit. I hope this helps! Thanks for sharing.

i charge my tenant $500 in additional deposit when they moved in, I have wooden floors so i'm not too worried about the cats

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www.ForeclosureLook.com

How many of you have had to tear up carpet and padding to eliminate pet odor?

Not carpeting and padding, but had to totally sand and refinish hardwood floors after evicting a guy with 7 cats.

I allow it on a case by case basis..A non refundable pet deposit is always required.

If they're renting one of my houses with a fenced yard, I allow dogs. But, no Rottweilers, no Pit Bulls, no Dobermans. And the dog has to make friends with me!

Cats are welcome at all my places; and caged birds and fish too.

I do not charge pet deposits. If someone in 2nd floor triplex apt. gets a dog after moving in, that's grounds for terminating the lease. And I'll take them to small claims court if necessary.

Have had minimal to no pet damage so far, and have been renting to pet owners for 5 years this time around (had rentals in the 80s then quit for 10 yrs).

We allow dogs under 25lbs. 1 month non refundable pet deposit per dog with a maximum of 2. It makes it much easier for us to find good tenants that are less likely to leave because they have difficulty finding other rents that will allow pets.

What exactly do you mean by non refundable?