Dogs?
I have a very nice duplex. It has hardwood floors and a very well kept fenced in backyard.
A prospective tenant just stopped by and she has a dog. She and her roomate will be entering graduate school, so it is likely that they will stay for 4 or more years should I choose to rent to them.
Their dog is the issue. Its about 70 pounds and seems to be a rotweiler/hound mix. I met the dog and it seems very friendly, but it is fairly big.
I am interested in what other landlords would do in this situation. Without the dog, these would be dream tenants.
if it is a "inside" dog, I would forget it.
although my wife rented to a family that had a yorkie they couldn't part with. lol
the man came to work short term at TVA for 12 weeks,the wife visted him for 2 weeks .the rent was 185.00 per week we raised it 40.00 per week for the dog.
He sent her home ,about 300 miles away after 2nd week
The largest dog I allow is a Lab. But I would look at each one on a case by case basis. A tiny little poddle would be a no-no if it was particularly loud. You did the right thing in interviewing the dog as well as the potential tenant. Think about any neighbors, and other tenants that might be affected by this dog. If you feel that there won't be any real negative effect, then go ahead. But make sure to get a hefty pet deposit and charge a premium rent.
Good luck.
My experience with indoor dogs has been positive. With hardwood floors, I would make sure you have at least 3 coats of polyurethene. This saves the wood, as urine can stain an unprotected floor. I would make sure your lease is 'airtight' concerning the dog. I have it in my lease that the residents immediately pick up the dogs excrement. Any holes dug by the dog will immediately be repaired by the resident, keep dogs shots up, license, etc. If they seem to be perfect tenants, I would not pass them up. Just make sure your lease protects you.
Good Luck!
Our rental rule is NO PETS. The odors and heartache these "friendly beasts" create is not in our business model.
Pet repairs can be worse then your rental full of children. Our nightmare was when the dog urinated all over the vents of the central air conditioning unit. The smell was horrible and the stains could not be removed.
Eric & Rosa
[addsig]
There are at least two issues: liability and damage.
Check your insurance. In FL, there is a waiver for any dog liability and they specifically prohibit any chows, akia, pit bulls, dobermans, rotweillers, german shepards, keeshounds, or great danes. I allow dogs, but none of the breeds above. They can not even look like the breeds above. I also have a two page animal agreement that says the animal must be on a leased or contained at all times. Animals can not be left unattended. I do not guarantee or warrant any fencing. If the animal causes any nuisances they must be removed with 30 days notice. Any animals found on the property and not on the lease will be turned over to the pound.
Damage is another issue. I have started requiring that dogs are crated during the day.
Brenda
I realize that I am probably in the minority, but I proudly promote my rental units as "pet friendly". These are not dumps, either - they are meticulously refurbished 1920's Spanish bungalows with million dollar views a door away from a 500 acre park.
I find that responsible pet owners are also responsible, stable tenants. I meet all pets in advance and have a separate pet agreement that speaks to issues of undesirable behavior. Additionally, I require all dog owners to carry Renters Insurance for liability coverage.
Size has absolutely nothing to do with my decision to accept a particular pet. I'd take a 5 year old, 85 lbs. couch potato over a puppy or small yappy, hard-to-housetrain Yorkie any day.
An indoor dog is preferable. Dogs left unattended outdoors all day while theri humans are at work can become lonely and bored. This causes the dog to bark (annoying neighbors), become destructive, and possibly escape.
Oh, by the way, I make my living as a dog trainer and am director of a non-profit dog rescue.
Hey,
Devildogranch seems to be the only one who understands dogs!
I LOVE tenants with large mature dogs. I ask for a small pet deposit ($100) and hand them the keys.
People with dogs have a very small set of houses they can rent and are very happy when they find one. Dogs live a long time, so you get long term tenants.
Puppies are a big no no.
As hard as the insurance market is, you definitely should understand how your premiums may be affected by pets, especially dogs on "the list". Brenda's explanation is fairly standard in many of the states of which I am aware...
As Bruce noted, owners who rent to a person with a dog can do much better financially.
You need to up the rent and you should expect to collect a large pet deposit. A separate pet agreement is called for. Make it a requirement that the tenant will be paying for a professional cleaning when they move out and collect this up front.
People with pets can not move easily. They will stay longer if the property works for them and you are a good landlord. Hence you vacancy and turn over costs will go down.
Good pet owners know that a pet costs something to own and that includes greater housing costs. If they want a pet and can afford to pay and the pet passes (some people have a pet inspection before agreeing) then it is your call. I would rent to people with pets.
Oh, if you have hardwood floors you should expect problems. I think someone said you have have the claws or nails removed in that case. Figure in the cost of re-sanding the floor and get that noted up front.
John
[addsig]
We used to allow pets with no deposit, but we now have a no pet policy because of the condition of our most recent vacant unit.
We used to allow pets with no deposit, but we now have a no pet policy because of the condition of our most recent vacant unit.
We used to allow pets with no deposit, but we now have a no pet policy because of the condition of our most recent vacant unit.