Friday, January 16, 2015

Allowing Pets in Your Investment Property

The decision as to whether or not to allow pets in your rental property is not an easy decision to make.  Pets can cause injuries, be destructive and cause thousands of dollars’ worth of property damage.  You may have heard horror stories about irresponsible pet owners not safely confining their animals, not picking up feces, ruined carpets and more.
However, if you don’t allow pets, you will lose a certain group of potential tenants before they even look at your rental home.  Those folks that love their pets almost as much as they love their children won’t rent your property, in most cases, if they can’t bring their pets.  Some may just say they don’t have any pets and move them in anyway.  Some desperate tenant pet owners may fall victim to internet scams by purchasing on line service animal kits. Unauthorized pets can be a more costly problem for the property owner at move out when damage has occurred and there is no pet addendum or additional deposit to help cover the costs.

According to the American Humane Association rental properties that allow pets are the norm rather than the exception in most parts of the country. They say 98 percent of the apartment communities in the Denver metro area accept cats, 93 percent accept small dogs and 66 percent accept large dogs.  An article on 9News.com said four of the top 10 cities for pet lovers are right here in Colorado.

It has been our experience that rental properties that allow pets rent more quickly and at a higher price per month than no pet properties.   Our policy of requiring a black light test (urine glows in black light) both before and after a pet moves into a rental home has improved our ability to collect carpet damage payments from tenants.

If you allow pets in your rental home potential tenants or current tenants wishing to add a pet will be notified that dangerous breeds, visiting pets and animals younger than 1 year are not allowed and that a current photo of the pet as well as up to date veterinary records are required.  A legally binding Pet Addendum must be signed and payment of a minimum of $200 additional security deposit must be received.


Assured Management will only advertise the type of approved pet and will always strictly adhere to the property owner’s wishes as to whether or not pets are allowed in the rental home.