Ashland, MA · Member since 2014 · 9 posts · 1 vote
Hello,
Should I accept tenant with 1 cat if we advertise "No Pets". We have have new tenants in other units without pets.
The tenant is great candidate except that she is willing to stay 6 month instead of 12 month. So I was about to wave security deposit and last month rent because she is signing 6 month lease.
Whats your recommendation? Should I say "sorry no pets" or wave "no pets" policy.
Please advice as Im not sure if that might bring questions from other tenants. Or other perspective tenants might go back to me and ask why we declined them with a pet and accepted this woman with a cat.
Investor · Portsmouth, VA · Member since 2016 · 289 posts · 107 votes
9y
@Vitaly Evdokimov I would not personally. My "nice person" side would let her bring the cat but my "business" side would say no because it opens up that door for other tenants and may cause issues.
Rental Property Investor · Tucson AZ / Nice FR / Washington DC · Member since 2016 · 1k+ posts · 1k+ votes
9y
Our leases say no pets. But we can wheel and deal when needed, and make a little extra coin. We have an addendum that allows pets; $250 non-refundable pet application fee, and $35/mo pet rent. Add some terms in there for damages by pets, etc, etc.
Investor · Portsmouth, VA · Member since 2016 · 289 posts · 107 votes
9y
Is this a MFH? How many units are there? If i was a tenant and saw a cat I probably would not care as I am not a cat (or animal) person. But you always have those people who will give you a hard time. If this is a relatively small complex and you know your tenants it might not be that big of an issue since its only 6 months. Then you just have to worry about any damages the cat may cause. (i cant think of any other then carpet stains maybe?) I would make her pay a small pet deposit of anything. But i understand that vacancy thing...it will make you take a few risks to say the least.
Ashland, MA · Member since 2014 · 9 posts · 1 vote
9y
I agree with you all.
What if she says that: "The cat is a unique service animal who provides emotional support to my son who suffers from anxiety from being abused prior to my adopting him at age 5"
Now she call this cat Emotional Support Animal. However, the law states that people who have disabilities must be allowed to have an emotional support animal, if there is psychiatric documentation to show that the animal helps ameliorate the disability. This is considered “reasonable accommodation.”
Do you think I should ask her to provide psychiatric documentation?
Investor · Portsmouth, VA · Member since 2016 · 289 posts · 107 votes
9y
Well now you have an explanation for any upset tenants. It sounds like the cat does not really bother you (or maybe its the vacancy speaking). If it doesnt bother you charge a deposit and let her stay. Did she disclose this before or do you think it is something she just made up? If the later applies I would have more of an issue with the dishonest/eagerness to rent the unit than I would with the cat. The only way to find out is to ask for documentation.
Investor · Skagit County, WA · Member since 2016 · 1k+ posts · 807 votes
9y
No. If you allows a pet in one unit, you will need to allow pets in other other units. It doesn't sound like you have a pet policy in place, but if you do decide to allow pets, you should make that available to all tenants. Then have a pet deposit and maybe an additional pet rent.
Otherwise, run your business like a business and follow your own rules. If you can't follow your own rules, how can you expect your tenants to follow the rules!!!
Rental Property Investor · Jackson, MS · Member since 2014 · 21 posts · 11 votes
9y
I would personally stick to the terms of my lease. Cats can do a lot of damage to a property from scratching up the trim and floors to spraying. I used to own a cat years ago and you can never get rid of that smell from them spraying.
According to your original post, you also stated that they would only sign a short term lease. This tenant will become trouble for you, just wait it out and get a better tenant. You set your rule for "no pets" for a good reason, stick to it or you'll probably be kicking yourself later.
Investor · Tacoma, WA · Member since 2014 · 83 posts · 40 votes
9y
I would not bend if you can successfully rent without allowing pets and you told other tenants in the property there are to be no pets. In no case would I ever, ever waive a security deposit. Accepting very short leases such as six months is a good reason to increase the monthly rent to accommodate increased costs for frequently turning the property.
I see comments about "Emotional Support Animal". Landlords are required to accept "Service Animals" trained to perform certain tasks for a disabled person but you are not required to accept "Emotional Support Animals". There are various terms that have been invented by pet owners or folk who "feel" their pet is something more than a pet to bypass no pet policies and make a landlord believe they must accept the animal because they have a doctor's note.
New York City, NY · Member since 2012 · 77 posts · 11 votes
9y
Emotional Support Animals? My city doesn't require accepting them. Emotional support is not the same in my city as a "service animal." (And, I would call requiring a landlord to accept an emotional support animal a silly rule in any city and too easy to get some social worker to call your pet an emotional support dog so you have no dog deposits, though some cities out there might require it.)
Cat pee smells horrible, if it gets into the carpet padding and concrete it's a hard smell to remove.
Cats can ruin curtains, wood trim, scratch windows, etc. easily.
If she isn't even a tenant and is already going on about the cat being an emotional support animal, move on. You'll end up running an ESA farm and have nothing you can do about it.
Specialist · Lakewood, CO · Member since 2014 · 1k+ posts · 1k+ votes
9y
@Mattie Covatch the whole support animal thing is at the FHA level, which would mean your city cannot change it. What ordinance/office says that you can do so? If they can legally do that, I'd love to know and start putting pressure where my units are to do the same.
Rental Property Investor · Davenport, FL · Member since 2016 · 593 posts · 382 votes
9y
My girlfriend has two cats and they have just about destroyed our condo. They vomit hairballs and food everywhere. If the litter is not kept clean they pee on the floor. There is hair everywhere. During the warm and hot months you have to worry about flees and ticks. They claw the carpet and tear it up. I would not allow even one cat.
Investor · Dundee, OR · Member since 2016 · 104 posts · 162 votes
9y
NO!
Rules are there for a reason, start bending them now and open Pandora's box. Look for the "YA BUT" excuse to be a part of future tenant landlord interventions. Its a business,treat it as one.
Brooklyn, NY · Member since 2016 · 11 posts · 13 votes
9y
For sure- no pets means no pets. If you allow it, then the other tenants can challenge you on it - and you can appear to show favoritism. You know you are trying to be lenient, but you are starting a bad precedent.
I know of a case where one tenant had a cat and it was allowed (policy no pets). Then one brought in a pit bull and was very angry when it was not allowed. She then cited "the cat case". She was right - so no pets means no pets.
Rental Property Investor · Portland, OR · Member since 2015 · 338 posts · 332 votes
9y
Look into the laws about ESA. IF she disclosed the cat was an ESA from the beginning, and if she can provide documented evidence for that and references from previous landlords and veterinarians, and IF that cat is fixed, vaccinated, treated for fleas, then I would consider it with an additional refundable security deposit.
What is more concerning is that you would allow tenancy of any term (other than weekly) without a security deposit. Shorter lease should mean higher rent, but not lower deposit. If this was her idea, and/or if she did not the cat was an ESA from the start, then I would RUN in the opposite direction because she sounds like a professional tenant.
If she was honest from the start and references check out and she passes all screenings, I'd offer her a one year or 16 month lease to end in April, not a 6 month one, and security deposit to cover at least one month's rent PLUS last month's rent. If she accepts that and passes all screenings, she may be legit.