How do you deal with tenants' dogs?
We’re new landlords (of a limestone) considering what to do about pets. Cats seem fine, and some dogs would be too, but I wonder if there’s a way to avoid getting one that’ll bark incessantly or piss all over the floors. Does one interview dogs? And if so, what would such an interview entail?
We’re new landlords (of a limestone) considering what to do about pets. Cats seem fine, and some dogs would be too, but I wonder if there’s a way to avoid getting one that’ll bark incessantly or piss all over the floors. Does one interview dogs? And if so, what would such an interview entail?
amen to the previous post. give us responsible dog owners a break.
I’m a renter with a dog, not an owner. As such I am greatly appreciative of apartments that allow dogs. I can understand how renting to dog owners can be a huge potential risk, but I also think you can screen potential tenants and require an additional deposit to greatly limit this risk. On top of meeting the dog and the owner to get an idea of the dog’s temperment and the responsibility of the dog owner, an easy way to find out what kind of tenants both the owner and the dog will be is to talk to former landlords, roommates, and even neighbors. You can find out what kind of condition the apartment was left in and if there was ever any noise or aggression issues with the dog. I know I have been greatly limited in choice of apartments because I have a dog and I know that it was my choice to get a dog, but I also think it is unfair to stigmatize all dog owners because some are irresponsible. As a responsible dog owner I would have no problem complying with a dog interview, extra deposit, and supplying plently of references that would show a potential landlord the good temperment and behavior of my dog.
Our renter has cats. She’s totally responsible and clean, and the upside is that we look in on each others’ pets while the other is out of town. Granted that’s a lucky situation, but it can work out for the best for everyone.
According to NOLO (the New York Landlord’s Law Book), landlords can charge as much as they want for a deposit legally – but market considerations usually reign them in. Lots of people charge two months’ rent for a deposit, but that’s about the most you can get away with.
just do not do it!!!!!you will find a tenant without a dog.
I am a dog owner and dog lover. Someone told me that if you have a dog you can’t forbid your tenants to have a dog. As a new landlord, I believed this, but now I think that’s bullsh*t. It’s my house. Anyway, my tenants didn’t have a dog when they moved in, but “adopted” one soon after – a massive, highly dominant, pit bull mix that barks his head off. I have a small, cute, well-behaved, older dog. Now we live in fear of running into kujo. The truth is, I agreed to pets because I was concerned about finding tenants. Dog owners sometimes might even pay more because their options are more limited. I suggest being VERY CLEAR about what kinds of pet situations you are willing to accept, including breeds. Interviewing the pet is also a great idea.
While I agree it is impossible to know if a dog will be loud until after they’ve moved in, sometimes you need to rent the place and a pet owner is all you’ve got. I suggest you try to limit the number of dogs. Dogs love to bark to each other and if you have two tenants, each with a dog, you run a big risk of the dogs “talking” to each other all day. Also, we rented our apt. to a family with a dog when we lived overseas. The dog did a number of the nice cherry kitchen cabinets, made worse by the renter trying to touch up the scratches. We ended up charging to refinish the worst door, but it still shows the damage in the other places. Lesson: if it is your own place and you want to avoid damage, best to avoid dogs (and cats, too).
We had a cat owner who we had to evict due to nonpayment of rent. To get us back he killed his cat and left it on the wood living room floor. No amount of resanding was able to get the dark stain of the cats profile out of the floor. The new tenants didn’t notice it, but it still creeps us out to this day.
Pets are great until it doesn’t work out.
Then, you’ll never rent to pet owners again.
Until then, it’ll be fine.