Rental Property Investor · Charlotte, NC · Member since 2019 · 161 posts · 178 votes
Hello everyone,
I see something pop up all the time when talking about allowing pets on your property. Someone always says "Except if it's a pitbull, keep those away"
Now I understand that "dangerous breeds" can bring higher insurance payments and some insurance companies might not give coverage at all. I have an insurance company that doesn't have such a clause so I know that the company exists. Another reasoning I get is that the dog is a good indicator of the type of person. Generally speaking, you see a pitbull and the owner stereotype that follows is some lowlife that won't pay rent.
If a tenant sits down in front of me, has a 760 credit score, a full time job, no marks against him/her, and happens to have a pit, I don't see what people get up in arms about. The stigma against pitbulls is cruel and unjust. Judge the person applying in front of you and the animal should be a reflection of that person. If anything make it a requirement that you meet the dog first before making a decision.
Investor · Las Vegas, NV · Member since 2013 · 8k+ posts · 10k+ votes
7y
Story after story after story of dog owned for years and years by The same family suddenly kills owner or owner’s kid. that’s probably most of it.
Who cares if you have insurance when you’re sued for a million or $5 million.
If you’re not making a boat load extra money for taking the risk, why would you take the risk?
A police officer is suing a landlord because their tenant shot them. If you’re responsible for that how are you not responsible for anyone that dog ever hurts? Are you going to court and saying “your honor, I didn’t know they suddenly attack” or are you going to say you didn’t believe it?
Are you reading every policy change they ever send like the one that says on page 12, oh, by the way we don’t cover these animals any more. Or when the claim comes in they say let’s see the letter of good behavior we require from the dog’s vet as specified on page 19.
Maybe, if you aren’t getting any decent tenant applicants that don’t own big dogs you could sell and find another neighborhood. Or charge a boatload above market rent, own it in an LlC, and mortgage it to the hilt. And just try to sleep knowing financially you’ll be ok no matter who’s killed or injured because you just couldn’t find anyone else to rent to.
Rental Property Investor · Douglas County, MO · Member since 2014 · 1k+ posts · 1k+ votes
7y
Are you serious? You think pitbulls are all, or even mostly, owned by black men? It sounds like you are the one with the race/bigotry issue. Every single pit owning applicant for my houses has been white, and about half were women.
Ding, Ding, Ding....Aiden Mulligan finally reveals the whole point of his post-
"The point of my post, and my belief, is that a blanket ban on anything be it people or pet is discriminatory and wrong. And yes I am well aware dogs aren't protected from discrimination, doesn't mean it is not discrimination. There's a difference between morality and legality."
This post wasn't a sincere inquiry about why landlords turn away tenants who own aggressive breeds such as pit bulls, although it was originally thinly veiled that way. No, the purpose of this post was for an "investor" to play moral police with other "investors (aka landlords) on the bigger pockets forum, and hope that he can gather some support by other pit fans on the page. Of course, those supporters were more than willing to "bully" up to the task and oppose any reasoning given, so this would have never been a logical discussion anyway, it was meant to inflame!
If you want to take issue with a landlord not following an ACTUAL law that governs landlords/tenants, then seems appropriate to bring it up on the page. If you are just looking to insight "discrimination" and "morality" against landlords where no law currently exists to support said discrimination, you may do better to visit your local politician and get "discrimination against bullies" legislation going there.
The rest of us will go back to screening and eliminating risk, within the laws, as we see fit and have a right to do in our businesses.
Real Estate Agent · San Antonio, TX · Member since 2017 · 814 posts · 466 votes
7y
Go ahead and accept pitbulls in your property, nothing wrong with it except the probable consequences that comes with that kind of dog breed. Most of us just stay away from this.
Today one lady asked me if she can apply to my rental. Then she explained she will be bringing with her a mixed pitbull and a GREAT DANE dog. My add have only small pets for a reason. Can you guess what was my answer to her request?...
Morrisonville, NY · Member since 2013 · 61 posts · 46 votes
7y
They are a liability. Period. They have been bred for violence. You're the landlord. You choose what to do with your property. Why should it be any concern if others don't allow them?
Rental Property Investor · Knightdale, NC · Member since 2014 · 15 posts · 5 votes
7y
@Aidan Mulligan
I always think it's interesting when I read a dog bite story and they don't list the breed. When it's a pitbull they say it in the headline.
I had a "pure bread" toy poodle as a kid my father got from a local pet store. No doubt that dog was from a puppy mill. The freaking dog would get aggressive against us as kids and would pee on everything. I still remember him biting at me and My cousins and he would bite the tail of our shirts and hang from them. My parents gave him away and the Family returned him to us after he peed on the husband's lunch! Now imagine if this was a 55 pound dog instead?
Pitbulls face the same issues as puppy mill dogs. They are overbread by these backyard breeders trying to make easy money and are often abused. I love pitbulls and historically they are great dogs (popular family dogs during WWI) but you have to be careful.
Investor · Saint Cloud, FL · Member since 2016 · 18 posts · 0 votes
7y
I have to add to this, so the original poster I'm assuming is in the insurance industry and says they know of one carrier that does allow pit bulls for rental insurance out of the what, probably hundreds of carriers that offer renters insurance? So even your industry obviously has a huge bias against pit bulls. I'm an avid dog lover, but there is no doubt whatsoever if you pay attention to what you see and the statistics out there, pit bulls are generally dangerous. I'm sure it has a lot to do with the fact that they have to be the most mixed of all breeds out there and I can guarantee you that at least in FL, if you go to a humane society anywhere, there will be at the very least 60% of the poor dogs there are all some variation of a pit. Now the reasons why that is could be a whole other discussion.
Denver, CO · Member since 2018 · 7 posts · 8 votes
7y
The problem starts with calling them "pitbulls". It's not a breed, it's a general group of 5 breeds. So when you look at the statistics for "pitbulls" your statistics are inflated by A LOT. When you actually split it out by the real breeds you can see the truth.
Any type of dog that you let a tenant have needs to be interviewed the same way you interview the tenant. I also like to offer reduction in the pet fee if the tenant can provide proof of obedience training, and have staggered levels of discounts for the higher levels of obedience training (the first level isn't much, basically just getting your dog to sit). Also make sure to actually call the place and verify, to make sure it's not a fake cert.
If you want to take it a step further, have a list of criteria the dog needs to be able to do to pass the pet interview. Like: doesn't jump up on people when meeting them, accepts treats gently, doesn't pull on the leash when walking etc. So that the owner knows what they need to work on.
Rental Property Investor · Los Angeles, CA · Member since 2013 · 1k+ posts · 1k+ votes
7y
@Aidan Mulligan they’re known to attack people without provocation. It’s not about hatred it’s about using common sense. The dog could care less how responsible a tenant is!
Rental Property Investor · Charlotte, NC · Member since 2019 · 161 posts · 178 votes
7y
@Ashton Day Taking it a little out of context, the post is about pitbulls but my belief doesn't stop at pitbulls. I'm also not saying it isn't your right. I guess as the owner of the post what everyone says automatically becomes my words too somehow.
I think its odd at how angry pitbull opponents get.
Proponents: "Pitbulls are sweet dogs based on our personal experience that you need to evaluate individually, not as a whole."
Opponents: "What are you stupid or something? Pitbulls are ferocious man eating machines. Don't you dare tell me how to run my business"