Guide for Landlords

Pit Friendly Rentals | Renter Guidelines | Landlord Guidelines | Pet Resume | Submit A Property

 

If you're a landlord wondering about the benefits of renting to pet owners, the following are some general guidelines for property owners to consider when setting up a pet policy. These are not hard and fast rules, and policies for individual properties should be designed to best meet your specific needs.


Benefits of Renting to residents with Pit Bulls:
from The New Hope Pit Bull Rescue Pit Friendly Rentals Program
  • lowering vacancy rates;
  • reducing resident turnover rates;
  • broadening the pool of prospective residents; and

PET POLICY GUIDELINES:

Start with screening
Careful screening of prospective residents is the first step to a successful pet policy. By asking a few simple questions, property owners can screen out irresponsible pet owners and find the responsible ones who will make good residents.


Put it in writing
A written agreement protects the interests of both property owner and resident, and pet rules and procedures help avoid misunderstandings.


Charge reasonable pet deposits
What is reasonable may vary, depending on the nature of each rental. While many landlords don't charge any additional pet deposit, one recent survey showed that the most common pet deposit was $150 - $200.


Establish limits
Limit permissible animals to common pets like dogs (based on the indvidual dog and not the breed), cats, rodents, fish, and birds. A policy on how many pets each resident may own can also help keep the pet population at manageable levels.


Set parameters
Should certain types of pets be confined to residents' apartments or homes? Should other pets be permitted in all or only parts of the common areas? Should dogs be leashed when in hallways or outdoors or in other communal areas? * Establish pet regulations in advance, before any conflicts arise.


Ensure cleanliness
A responsible pet owner will agree to immediately pick up and dispose of dog feces, bag kitty litter before placing it in garbage containers, and take other necessary sanitation measures.


Require spaying and neutering
Spayed and neutered animals are generally healthier, better behaved, and more suited to apartment and indoor living than their unaltered counterparts.


Determine emergency arrangements
Property owners may want to keep a file with the names and addresses of each pet's veterinarian and substitute caretakers designated by the resident.


Put disciplinary procedures in writing and enforce them fairly
These procedures might include a provision for warning(s) before any punitive measures are taken. Whatever the policy, fair and consistent enforcement will reduce disputes and make for better relations between management and residents.


Tell residents about available services
Pet owners in Charleston are lucky to have plenty of pet-related services at their disposal. Dozens of trainers, dogwalkers and petsitters are available in the City, and The Charleston Animal Society (SPCA) offers dog and cat behavior videos, low-cost spay neuter clinic, an animal behavior helpline, and more. (Some owners are quite proficient in training their own dogs so keep this in mind when establishing your pet policy.)