No Pets Rental Policy
We’ve been landlords for many years, and have always had a strict no pets policy. This has never been a problem in finding tenants. We keep nice apartments, rent a bit below market, and do our best to deal directly with tenants so they can afford a broker fee. However, our most recent vacancy is…
We’ve been landlords for many years, and have always had a strict no pets policy. This has never been a problem in finding tenants. We keep nice apartments, rent a bit below market, and do our best to deal directly with tenants so they can afford a broker fee.
However, our most recent vacancy is sitting open longer than usual, so we’ve signed on with a broker. Broker tells us they’ve had 4 applicants who wanted it at the price we’re listed, but all have pets. She is sure (and so are we) that the price is right. We are wondering if the no pets policy could really be getting in the way.
Note that this is a family sized apartment: 2 beds, 2 baths, washer/dryer, private yard.
Would appreciate thoughts of landlords and renters on three questions:
1. Is a no pets policy really that unusual?
2. If you do accept pets, what safeguards do you put in place to manage the possible problems (damage, disrupting other tenants, etc). Higher deposit? Case-by-case, so you meet the pet first?
3. Do that many people really have pets, or is this a function of the fact that this particular apartment is family-sized/near the park/etc?
Many thanks.
I’m of two minds of this – I love animals, we’ve had a bunch in our house over the years, but I don’t trust a stranger to be as diligent as we are about training, cleaning up after, etc. in the rental portion of our house.
I would consider a pet on spec though – which would mean a home visit, landlord reference, extra security, the works. I like the idea of a nuisance rider that someone else mentioned. Also would stipulate no pets in the backyard.
While an irresponsible pet owner can absolutely cause a lot of damage, so many pets end up homeless because their owners move (just take a look on Craigslist any given day); I don’t want to penalize good owners/tenants.
The Clinton Hill Coops are pet-friendly, and that’s one of the nice things about living here. When we first moved in we had a dog, a lovely Kerry Blue terrier, and while he was the most well-behaved and sweetest-tempered dog I’ve ever known, he did bark whenever someone was outside our door, so I was a bit worried about what our neighbors might think. One day I was taking out my trash, and met a couple of my new neighbors, and asked them if my dog’s barking bothered them. They answered, “No! We feel safer with such a good watch dog on the floor!”. Fortunately, the walls and ceilings are really thick and well-built here, so noise doesn’t really travel between floors and apartments.
I allow pets – but with 1 rule: they must be spayed or neutered.
Trust me, this will identify who you want and who you dont….
Thanking you all again for your valuable input.
Dandelion, the apartment is in Windsor Terrace. Just reposted it on CL, so you should be able to find it easily. It’s the one that says ‘no pets’. Ha ha.
I’ll post up again with an update, especially if we change our minds and take someone with a pet.
Have a great weekend everyone.
I do agree that in an apartment of that size, with a garden, and close to the park you will attract pet owners. I also agree with what everyone has said here: cats can do way more damage than dogs (and cat urine makes black stains on hardwood floors that are impossible to remove) and that big dogs are generally mellower than little ones. I would say stick to your guns – but if someone exceptional comes along (great credit and income, etc.) and his/her only failing is pet ownership you might want to consider it with a pet interview (yes, it does occur, mostly in co-ops) and additional security. For anyone who’s interested, Michael Pintchik has great apartments and allows dogs (not cats, for the reasons mentioned above), and gives a great dog interview – gets down and plays with the dog, etc. Exclusively through Paul Zumoff @ Corcoran.
I totally agree with landl0rd… and though i love dogs, i won’t ever change my no-pets policy. I once lived over a woman (who seemed perfectly respectable, clean, etc) whose apartment REEKED of dog. the landlord couldn’t get the smell out or get the place clean enough to rent it again for almost a year after she left. it was disgusting.
IMHO, if the only renters you can find have pets, you must be asking too much.
Good luck.
quote:
I dislike people who dislike animals.
I <3 animals, but some people dont want animal smell in their HOMES.. in homes they they OWN. you can’t blame them. jeez. i <3 the corn chip smell of my dog, but not everyone does. cats smell like urine and 3 day old tampons, but some people like that smell. but people shouldnt HAVE to put up with that if they dont want to. duh!
*rob*
and it doesnt matter anyway. if someone really DOES want a pet but doesnt currently have one and moves into your place, they can get one while living there and you can’t really do anything about it. people are allowed, under nyc law, to take on another roommate if they so choose. and a pet can count as a roommate if they are making the person money. all they have to do is take a pic of their pet, sell it to a friend and document the money made, and then in housing court show the judge and you lose as a landlord. the pet will have official roommate status.
*rob*