Should I Be a Pet Friendly Landlord?

Jan 30, 2012 by Annabel Roberts

Very few landlords are willing to let tenants bring in their domestic pets. No matter how small the pet is most landlords stand a firm ground when forbidding pets in the rental unit, their negative reaction is understandable as a pet can be a very destructive force and nobody wants to get their property harmed. That is only one side of the story many landlords miss the big picture when it comes to tenants with pets. A pet loving tenant is a responsible and dedicated person therefore it is logical to presume that if a person takes good care of an animal he will also take good care of the rented unit. In this article we will list down the pros and cons of being a pet friendly landlord.

The advantages of allowing pets are:

-    Allowing pets will give the landlord the opportunity to request a higher rent;
-    Being a pet friendly landlord opens a wider pool of tenants that he could choose from;
-    Tenants are more willing to be exemplary renters, because they know how difficult it is to find a pet friendly landlord;
-    Some pets such as dogs can be used for protecting of the property, as they do respond cautiously to strangers.

The disadvantages of allowing pets are:

-    Pets can be quite destructive;
-    If the pets’ hygiene is neglected by its owner: unpleasant aroma can arise and spread around the apartment;
-    Often pets disturb the neighbors, dogs starting barking at night, cats enter the neighbor’s houses and etc.;
-    After the termination of the tenancy, cleaning services Covent Garden based may be needed, as the condition of the property can be more damaged than expected;
-    Pets are a high risk factor for insect infestations and some diseases;
-    If you let out your property furnished, beware that some pets are destructive towards furnishings, curtains, carpets, etc.

But before opening the doors for renters and their pet, there are some things that should be considered. Insist on meeting the pets to get the chance to observe the behavior of the animal and how healthy and cleans it is. Ask for a reference from the pet’s veterinarian to make sure that the animal is healthy. Read carefully the potential tenant reference from his former landlord to see in what aspect the pets is mentioned. Consider if the animal is suitable for your property.

During the formation of the tenancy agreement, write special clauses for pets such as in what cases the pets can be removed from the rental unit, who to contact in case of an emergency if the tenant is unavailable, extra cleaning measures due to the pet’s presence, a higher security deposit and a higher rent charge and a better final cleaning process, if needed mention which company should conduct the end of tenancy cleaning Covent Garden has a big number of firms offering this service.