The USA is a nation of animal lovers. More than 70% of American households are pet owners. But a lot of these folks live in rented accommodation.
While some would give a firm no to the idea of pups in their properties, others recognize the advantages of allowing animals in an apartment.
Unsure on whether or not you should allow pets in a rental property? Stick around. We've put together this list of landlord tips to help you make a decision.
The Pros of Permitting Pets in a Rental Property
As we already mentioned, a whole lot of Americans are pet owners. That means you'll appeal to so many more tenants when you allow pets in rentals. This will reduce the time your property sits vacant in between tenants.
Since your property will be more appealing, you can even charge a little extra rent! Many people will be happy to pay an extra pet rent to bring their furry friend into the property.
Allowing pets is also a great way of retaining existing tenants. Since pet owners may struggle to find suitable accommodation elsewhere, they're more likely to stick around in a place where they know their pet is welcome. That will save you plenty of money since you won't have to continually find new tenants.
The Cons
Pets can cause damage to property. Even the goodest of good boys is likely to have a little accident now and then, and no one wants to clean that up. But it's important to remember that human tenants can cause a mess themselves sometimes (that's what deposits are for!).
Pets can also cause damage to furniture or other parts of your property with their claws. While it's possible to offset any potential damage through a pet deposit, it's worth making a thorough assessment before deciding how much you should charge for a pet deposit.
The main disadvantage of pets in a property is the negative impact it could have on other tenants. If you're renting out an entire apartment block, there's a chance you could irritate your other tenants. If you do decide to allow pets in your property, make sure the animal is well behaved and won't be barking or yowling all night!
Let Us Help With Your Property Management
If you own Florida real estate or you're thinking of making some investments in the area, there's no need to handle everything yourself. Hiring a quality property management company to take care of the day-to-day running of your property can help take the stress out of being a landlord.
HomeRiver Group can help you manage your Orlando real estate. We offer a wide range of cost-effective, efficient services to make life as a landlord a breeze. We'll handle everything from pets in a rental property and tenant screenings to daily maintenance, so you don't have to.
Check out our services today, or use the live chat function on our site to find out exactly how we can help you.
