Tenants Want a Dog
Our tenants have asked to allow them to bring a small (under 20lbs) dog into their apartment – French bulldog, or something along those lines. We never had a dog of our own. Thus, we are hesitant, and would love to hear from more experienced landlords. It might be useful to note that the tenants…
Our tenants have asked to allow them to bring a small (under 20lbs) dog into their apartment – French bulldog, or something along those lines. We never had a dog of our own. Thus, we are hesitant, and would love to hear from more experienced landlords.
It might be useful to note that the tenants are roommates. They live upstairs from us, and one floor will be separating our apartment from the dog.
As someone who frequently rents houses for the summer I’m always annoyed by how difficult it is to find a rental property that allows pets. This restriction limits my selection and ability to negotiate price. Generally I offer to leave extra security and I’ve never failed to get my full security back at the end of the season.
First, my dog does less damage and makes less noise than mamy people’s children, but I’ve never heard of anyone requiring extra security for teens or infants.
Second, size restrictions make no sense. I’ve run into several people who refuse to take “large” dogs (sometimes that means more than 20 pounds.) If anything, small yappy dogs can cause more problems than large dogs.
I understand that some people have allergies (although paying attention to the breed can mean less likelihood of shedding) and I’d understand if someone wanted me to pay for a thorough cleaning when I vacated.
If your tenants have proven to be responsible people what makes you think they’ll want an animal damaging their property?
In my experience as a landlady, I’ve had more damage by kids and 20 somethings than any pets (except for my own problem cats).
Dogs can easily damage a wood floor. Be careful. I don’t allow dogs.
Posted by: troll at June 20, 2009 5:39 PM
Ha Ha – you guys are wound up to tight.
We own a dog – top floor of a brownstone, no one in the building has a single complaint. Our floors are wooden – and look perfect.
You guys are loosers, no wonder people bitch about landlords with people like you around – i’ve got an idea for you…dont rent out your apartments if you are worried about ‘wear and tear’.
Dogs can easily damage a wood floor. Be careful. I don’t allow dogs.
Sometimes I wonder if it’s the posters here that need training as opposed to the animals. Genya – this totally your call and it should hinge more on the fact that you are a tenant in the house. How much of a potential nuisance factor are you willing to tolerate? Pet deposits/security for damages is more straight forward.
“just say that you or someone else is “deathly allergic.”
advice by ‘slick’. need i say more?
just say that you or someone else is “deathly allergic.”
To clarify, I own a dog myself and have rented to dog owners successfully. I am not anti-dog. I’m anti bad dog owner.
The reason I make an external rule about training is because I am a softie about dogs, and because it’s hard to tell when someone is going to become a bad dog owner. I don’t think it’s the same as flakiness. I think that living with a destructive dog is a deep kind of denial that’s a function of knowing that you are responsible to a life that you can’t take care of. From what I can tell, all this destruction just kind of turns into something that the owners just… watch happen. It just becomes the new normal.
If you are in doubt about the pervasiveness of the I Shouldn’t Have A Dog Lifestyle, go to a dog run or park and stand near the people who only go to the park on the weekends. Within five minutes you’ll be listening to a litany about the poop in the house, ruined doors, food stolen off the stove, angry neighbors…
I can’t imagine having a dog that messed up my life like that. I would fix it. But people do it all the time. I think it’s smart for a landlord to protect oneself from that crazy train. And I think it’s better to protect oneself without banning dogs entirely.
My experience was similar to cmu’s. Our tenants (we’re a two family house) had been great tenants for two years and said they were thinking of getting a dog. We trusted them, laid a few basic groundrules and said “sure”. Their Golden Retriever became a much beloved member of the household, and we really missed all of them when they moved a few years later. Frankly, dogs also add a nice level of security. I never minded the dog barking when someone came to the door or rang the bell. As for damage, it was a non-issue…my neighbor whose tenants had cats had much more damage to deal with when they moved out than we ever did. As long as we like the tenants, we’d allow a dog anytime.