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.
Mrs L: read again: one floor separation. Dog footfalls would have to be heavy indeed to go though that.
Any tenants-with-dogs want to chip in? I can’t believe the anti-animal sentiment here, no wonder people don’t like landlords.
When my tenants said they wanted a dog, it was simple; they’d been there 2-1/2 years; they were quite mature, friendly and careful; use your judgement OP, as I did…if my tenants could’ve been flakey (as, obviously, vanburen’s was, and I still have a hard time understanding how any middle-class tenants could be so sanguine to destruction) I might have refused.
I think the op mentioned that the current tenants have lived there for awhile and are now interested in getting a dog. Although, I am a bleeding heart for animals,I think I would have reservations with a tenant bringing in a new animal they don’t know yet into the apt. I wouldn’t say no way, but I would have to think about it as it’s not so much the potential damage that would bother me as it would be possible barking,squealing, yelping etc etc
good luck
Regardless of maturity level or damages, I would not want to hear a dog running back and forth on the floor above me. For me, it would be a very polite but clear no.
HAve they had the dog a long time? A reference from the previous ll may help.
And as someone who’s actually fixed the damages done to an apartment after an untrained dog has lived in it for a year, $2000 is totally reasonable.
In my situation, in the nineties, the damage was $1800 in materials alone, and I took $1300 in deposit, so I lost money even though I did all the work myself. A large swath of floor was soaked in urine and needed to be replaced. There was no more base molding in most of the apartment. I replaced three doors. All the screens in all the windows. Some drywall. The lower kitchen cabinet doors. The linoleum in the floor was done. The landscaping in the backyard was wrecked.
A deposit should reasonably accommodate a worst-case scenario. A dog can do way more than $2K in damage.
Anyone who’s calling me anal has never seen an apartment after an untrained dog has lived in it for a year. It’s simple: Dogs can cause an amazing amount of damage when they’re not trained, but don’t when they are trained.
Is asking a tenant for a credit report anal? What’s the difference?
I think it’s way worse to ask all dog owners, even the ones who know their dogs won’t cause damage, to pay an enormous security deposit.
Over-Controlling landlords should find some other way to pay their mortgages (yes, I know it’s “YOUR” property).
Some dogs smell, others have an “odeur”; if you like and/or have animals it’s no big deal.
The thing about dog food and vermin is ridiculous (why were you checking their kitchen anyway?), if the tenants are sloppy, they could do all kinds of other things sans dog to bother you.
Dogs will cause some damage to floors (and hopefully nothing else) so asking for, say $500 extra deposit is reasonable (not $2000!). That’s what I did.
I’ve allowed it several times & not had a problem. The training proviso is an excellent suggestion.
gimme a break. Proof of obedience training. Dont be a dick, just say no if you’re that kind of anal landlord.