Investor/Realtor · Wentzville, MO · Member since 2014 · 846 posts · 431 votes
We are closing on our first two rental properties next week. They are turn key ready to rent properties. We have a few potential renters already. One is a young couple with a dog. I have dogs myself and know that they can be messy and destructive to a property. IMO I would rather not allow dogs at all. Fellow renters, what is your policy on dogs?
@Marcus Johnson I think people need to have a more open mind when they're so quick to assume all pets cause more damage than humans/kids. Kids also poop and pee in places that are not the assigned place depending how young they are. Kids draw on walls. Kids generally get into things. This, of course, goes back to the parents and how much they are or are not watching them and correcting them.
Just because there is a pet doesn't automatically mean it's pooping and peeing all over the place. Obviously, pets wouldn't be so popular if this were the case. Even with cats, generally, they WANT to go in their litter box. If they aren't, it's either because of some sort of health issue or because the human isn't doing something right such as cleaning the box!
Sure, humans tend to be allergic to animals and that's the only reason they notice the dander and hair in carpets. But don't for a minute think that those carpets aren't also full of human hair and human skin flakes (and who knows what else!). Carpet is generally a gross flooring option.
Thanks for the answer. So it would all be considered one security deposit, just that the tenants are charged extra because of the greater likelihood of damage.
We don't know if the animal was restricted from outside but the clearer issue is the idjit tenant doing the filming. Dog or no dog this tenant would be an issue.
Both times I stated in my ad 'No Pets', but ended up liking and renting to tenants that had pets. My wife and I just liked and felt more confident with 'those' applicants.
Each time it was fine I had no problems. I think the next time I look for tenants, I'll add a pet fee.
If you do then require the tenants to have renters insurance that covers you should their dog bite somebody. While you are at it require them to have you named as "additional insured" on the policy. Many insurance companies will not do that but there are still some who will. The reason you want to do that is because if there is any kind of lawsuit the insurance company will also have to cover you and not just the tenant making it a lot less likely that the tenant will sue you.