German Shepherds are the most popular dog breed in Florida. However, it doesn't matter what breed a Floridian owns. They love their pets and consider them a part of the family.
Many of these families rent, which can present an opportunity for you, a landlord. However, you should know a few things before you allow pets in a rental property.
1. Larger Potential Tenant Pool
When you don't allow pets in your rental, you automatically disqualify anyone with a pet. So, by having pet-friendly rentals, you significantly increase your applicant pool.
Generally, people with pets are considered more stable and responsible. However, this isn't the case for everyone. You can sort pet owners by implementing pet policies that help you determine responsibility.
Request documents for the pet as part of your tenant screening. Verify that the animal has received routine vet care and is up to date on its vaccines.
2. Follow the Law
You must follow the law even if you allow pets in your rental. The Florida Fair Housing Act requires you to not discriminate against those with service animals. These are animals that have a job and are not considered pets.
While a recent law enacted doesn't allow public and government housing to restrict dogs based on weight and breed, it does not apply to private property owners. However, staying current on new laws is essential, as they could apply to you.
3. Increased Cleaning Costs
Even the most responsible pet owners will leave behind a rental home with increased wear and tear. Dog nails will tap and scrape the flooring, and pets could have accidents on it.
If you plan to allow renting with pets, budget for increased post-lease cleaning costs. You may also need to plan on replacing
4. You Can Still Evict
You can still evict a tenant if they fail to follow your tenant pet guidelines outlined in your lease. Similar to other rental property rules, failure to follow them is a violation of a legal agreement.
- Do not have an open-ended pet term
- Limit the number of pets
- Name the allowed pets
Then, it should include the procedure for getting another pet if the tenant wishes to do so during the lease term.
You can evict them for specific reasons, even if it is a service animal. For example, if the service animal does excessive damage to the rental.
Allow Pets in a Rental Property
While allowing pets in a rental property can provide several benefits, some risks come with it. A larger talent pool means you need to practice more thorough tenant screening.
You could have increased maintenance and cleaning costs. Finally, you must ensure your lease is correctly written to retain your landlord rights.
The PMI Arrico Realty and Property Management team in Lakeland, FL, works with property owners to manage their rentals. We use innovative technology and our years of local experience to customize a management plan for each property.
Maximize your rental profits when you trust your property with the local team who knows the Lakeland market.
