Landlords

There are strategies that you can utilize to manage a pet friendly property. Training is at the heart of it all. Many dogs are kennel trained which means that a dog will not be left unsupervised or unattended while the owners are out. This minimizes damage because the dog is not left to boredom and freedom simultaneously.  There are also a number of certifications and training programs dogs can complete to demonstrate their behavior.

It is important also to consider when renting to tenants with pets, to take into account temperament testing for dogs.  When seeing the results of temperament tests, pit bulls actually rank higher in tolerance tests than Daschunds and Chihuahuas; in fact, the Pit Bull was far more tolerant by 27 points.

Other Key Factors When Renting to a Tenant with Pets:

• Look at each tenant as a pet owner – don’t judge the breed.
• Interview the tenant by asking specific questions about their pet’s behavior, previous and current training patterns and their experience with pets.
• Require renter’s insurance and dictate the liability amount.
• Create a pet policy that will address both human and pet behaviors.
• When in doubt, require tenants to attend a formal training program.

If you are looking to improve your retention rates while shortening your vacancy period, permitting pets is a great way to achieve better profit margins without compromising liability, cost of insurance, and damages.

For more information on managing pet friendly rentals please click here to read our guide:  Tips for Landlords and Pets.