Should You Accept Pets in Your Rental Property?

A common question landlords ask us is if they should accept pets in their rental property here in Northern Virginia. My husband and I are rental property owners ourselves, are big pet lovers, and we have two huge dogs. Pets definitely do put some wear and tear on your house, so don’t think that won’t happen. However, when you’re thinking about whether to rent to tenants with pets, remember that about 62 percent of American households have pets. So, if you say no to pets, you’ll be eliminating a huge percentage of the population. Pet owners are potentially great tenants, and there are a few things you can do to protect yourself if you decide to accept pets.

Talk to Your Insurance Company

Make sure you check with your insurance company on what breeds are acceptable and insurable. Some insurance companies will not insure certain dog breeds so make sure you call and find out if your insurance company has any restrictions. For example, pit bulls are always on that list. If you don't take this step and accept a dog that causes a problem, it could be a big liability for you.

Lease Agreements

Your lease agreement can address pets in a number of ways. First, you can and should require a pet deposit. Make sure you have a pet deposit that can cover any potential damage. You can charge this deposit per pet and it is collected on top of the security deposit. You can charge pet rent as well, which we’re seeing more of in our Northern Virginia market. It’s usually $25 to $50 a month per pet per month. You can charge a lower pet rent for smaller pets like birds or small animals and a higher pet rent for larger animals. Decide what makes sense. That will cover some of the additional wear and tear you may experience.

Move Out Requirements and Inspections

You can also put a clause in your lease and move out requirements that says tenants with pets must have their carpets cleaned and have a de-ticked and de-flea treatment on top of the regular cleaning. Most leases will require tenants to have the carpets professionally cleaned, and carpet cleaners can also do these extra treatments. This will take care of odors, fleas, and ticks. You can also charge an extra fee if you want to do additional inspections on the property and just let pet owners know you will need to visit more frequently than normal because of the pets.

These are just a few ways to protect your Northern Virginia rental when you accept pets. Remember too that there is a difference between pets, service animal and emotional support animals. That topic will be in a future post.

If you have any questions, feel free to contact us anytime at Richey Property Management - your Reston rental resource. We're happy to help!