When discussing whether or not you should allow for pets in your rental home, you need to weigh the pros and cons. I'll go through those now along with the steps you can take to protect yourself.
Pros - You can provide yourself with additional income. You can charge a monthly pet rent, or a flat fee lump sum to allow for pets in the home Additionally, you are opening up your rental to the most candidates. When you limit it to non-pets, you are removing 60% of renters, as that is home many have pets.
Cons - Additional wear and tear on the home. Pets mean more bodies, more wear and tear. Also, if the pets have accidents, that can leave permanent damage to the home. Dogs and cats with nails WILL LEAVE marks on true hardwood.
Protections - You will certainly want to add a Pet Addendum to the lease. In it, you can specifically state what pets are approved, including weight, breed, and number of pets. You can also ask for a Pet Deposit. That can be in addition to, or in lieu of a pet payment. It's up to you to choose the amount. As long as the renter is in agreement and signs the lease and addendum, you are covered.
You are free to restrict pets in any manner you choose. With weight limitations, breed restrictions, and the number of pets they can have. You can also consider pets on a case-by-case basis and decline large breeds while accepting smaller.
It's entirely up to you how you go about deciding based on what is best for you.
What you need to keep in mind is that pets are different than service animals, which include Guide Animals, Hearing Animals and Emotional Support Animals. These CAN NOT be declined and you CAN NOT charge for having them in your home.
If you need any additional information on handling pets in your home, or you have questions in general regarding rentals, please click on the blue "Get A Free Quote" button on our website.
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Vienna, VA 22182
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