Pet Pages & Links

Pets are good for business, especially in single family rentals. According to The Humane Society of the United States, some 49.4 percent of U.S. renters have pets. Since half of all tenants are looking for landlords who accept pets, renting to pet owners may double the marketability of your vacancies. 
      Tenants with pets tend to stay longer to avoid the hassle of finding another "pet-friendly" place.

Pets-Allowed Policy Makes Dollars & Cents

• Quality, caring people own pets. Pet owners are usually thoughtful people who are more likely to get along with neighbors and keep their living areas neat and clean. 
  
• Attract 50% more potential tenants. Fifty percent of renters own pets, with or without the landlord's permission. A pet-friendly policy should help fill vacancies twice as fast and you deal with the pet issues up front and in writing. 
  
• Increase the length of occupancy. Once pet owners find rental housing that welcomes their pet, they are likely to rent for a longer period of time than residents who do not own pets. 
  
• You'll foster goodwill. Research has proven time and again that pets help most of us live happier and healthier lives. Allowing pets in your rental housing will not only help your residents, it will also help you by generating a positive public image and a better return on your investment.
  
• WARNING: Your tenant may be able to keep a pet even if you don't allow it. Two types of laws now give a tenant or coop shareholder the right to keep a pet, even if they agreed to a "no pet" provision when they moved i n.

      There are new municipal or local "Pet Laws" holding that any "no pet" provision is waived for the duration of the tenancy if the landlord fails to enforce the no pet provision by commencing an action or proceeding within three months of the tenant's open and notorious harboring of the pet.

      Federal state, and local laws which prohibit discrimination against the disabled may also allow a tenant to keep a pet in spite of a "no pet" rule. The laws mandate that a landlord grant a "reasonable accommodation" necessary for a disabled person to "use and enjoy" their home.

See: How tenants keep a pet when a lease says: "No Pets"

Pet Page RHOL discusses the pros and cons of allowing pets in rental  housing.

Rentals Stink page Understanding and elimination of odor causing problems in rental housing.

Pet Agreements A sample RHOL suggested pet agreement that helps prevent pet problems in rental housing. (Located in the Forms Web) 

Pet Screening Checklist Compiled form member landlord's experience and suggestions from the Humane Society.

Pet Application A PDF form you can print and use from the Humane Society.

Pet Letters. Remind pet owners of their responsibilities and help a void p et p problems

Tenant Pet Tips A page of tips for tenants who want to keep pets and need to convince the landlord to agree.

Pets Can be Valuable, particularly large dogs. Landlords need to learn that pets are good for business.

Need to eliminate cat odor?