It is challenging to decide whether or not to offer a pet-friendly rental home in San Clemente. Offering a pet-friendly rental property could open up a whole new renter demographic. There are also downsides to allowing tenants to keep pets on your rental property. Before making that decision to make your rental home pet-friendly, you have to consider the pros and cons of doing so.
According to the American Pet Products Association (APPA), 68% of U.S. households include one or more pets. With Americans owning more than 90 million dogs and 94 million cats, it is clear that pet owners outnumber non-pet owners by a fair margin. The figure is roughly 50% for those who are pet owners and renters at the same time. Among those that are not, 35% said they were likely to have a pet if their lease allowed it.
Property owners can quickly do the math given all these statistics. Pet-friendly rentals could mean an increased demand for your property, which could mean an opportunity to increase monthly rent as well as charge pet fees. Looking at things from a financial perspective, these are great reasons for allowing pets on your rental property.
You must also remember that allowing pets also means you face a new set of potential problems. The risk of property damage is probably the most significant of these. Pets are prone to damaging homes and yards. Even well-behaved animals are not excused from this. Dogs dig holes, chew doors and trim, and claw walls and doors, while cats scratch and mark furniture and floors. Pets that are anxious or untrained may cause bigger damages to carpets and wood through urination or other behaviors. Animal urine can soak into wood trim, carpet pad, and drywall, creating a nasty odor and unsanitary conditions. Most property owners who allow pets often end up incurring expensive repairs and maintenance expenses.
Most property owners advise their tenants to take preventative measures against property damage. You can also require a pet deposit as an important first step. Tenants are likely to agree to an additional fee if it means they can keep their beloved pets. Provide your tenants with instructions and information about protecting the home from pet damage as well. Strategies like scratching posts for pet cats or using enzymatic cleaners to clean urine spots can help reduce some kinds of damage. Remind tenants to clean up after their pets. This means keeping litter boxes as well as housebreaking their dog. Finally, when you notice that your tenant’s pet is showing signs of anxiety or boredom, ask your tenant if they would like to get a pet sitter or daycare situation. These strategies can help protect both your rental property as well as giving your tenants the opportunity to keep their pets.
Allowing pets in your rental home could also potentially impact future tenants. Tenants who are allergic to animals might not want to rent a house that has had pets in it. Pet dander can be challenging to remove completely and can cause annoying allergy symptoms in sensitive individuals.
It is important that you clean the house correctly between tenants if you decide to allow pets onto your property. All interior surfaces should be washed, or steam cleaned if possible, and a quality vacuum with a HEPA filter used to remove any embedded pet hairs and debris. Clean the home’s air ducts and replace all filters as well. A correctly calculated pet fee would adequately cover these additional expenses.
There are a lot of things to think about when it comes to pet-friendly rentals. In the end, just make sure you have considered all the pros and cons and that you clearly understand your rental property’s location and target demographic This will help you decide what is right for you. If you need help getting to know the local market and managing your rental, contact us online, and the team at Real Property Management Agile would love to be of service to you.
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