Is Your Rental Property Pet Friendly

Did you know that almost half of renters today own a pet? That is a large population of people. However, pet-friendly properties remain far and few while the Australian population keeps on struggling to find a home.

If you happen to be stuck in a similar situation, then you can turn the tables in your favour. By making your property pet-friendly, you can attract a lot of potential renters looking for a home.

This has an additional set of benefits such as:

1. Pet owners are more likely to pay their rent on time

According to an Australian survey, 65% of pet owners make more than $50,000 a year and are likely to pay more rent while also ensuring that they do it on time.

2. Longer tenancy period

As we established, there are fewer properties available on rent for pet owners. Since it is harder to find a home, they are more likely to stay longer with you.

3. Responsible tenants

There is no denying the fact that pet owners are pretty responsible people. If someone is competent enough to take care of a pet, he/she is indeed capable of taking care of the property.

However, there are still specific measures that you can take.

Social behaviour

You might want to enforce some rules when it comes to socially acceptable behavior. You can let them know what is expected and what is not. In the case of a shared property with more than one tenant, you need to ensure that the pet does not affect the daily lives of other people.

Additional fee

Of course you are one of the ‘few’ landlords who allow pets on your premises. This is an additional service as compared to other properties in your area. You can charge an additional fee for your service. Sit down with your tenant or real estate agency and discuss a deal with him/her.

Host pet-friendly events

If you happen to own a multi-story building with a lot of tenants then you should consider hosting dedicated or pet-friendly events at your property. This will serve as an opportunity for both pet owners and other tenants to indulge with one another. This is an opportunity to appease existing tenants who might have a preference to stay in a pet-free environment.

Prohibit certain pets

‘Pets’ might mean different things to different people. Therefore, do not craft your policies with only dogs and cats in mind. Additionally, some breeds of dogs tend to be quite excitable, and could potentially frighten other residents of your building. This is something you should keep in mind when accepting tenants in a property or apartment complex.

These are just some of the things that you need to consider while making your buildings pet-friendly. Remember to spend enough time drafting the policies regarding pets to avoid any unprecedented events.

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