Pros and Cons to Pet-Friendly Renting

Who doesn't enjoy coming home to the wagging tail or purr of your adorable pet, right? That's definitely on the level of a warm fuzzy!

However, when it comes to considering renting out your property to pet owners you might think a bit differently. There are definite advantages to making your rental pet-friendly, but there are also some disadvantages to seriously consider.

Here are some pros and cons to pet-friendly renting.

Pros for having a pet-friendly policy

Larger pool of prospective tenants 

A large number of tenants own a pet. Therefore by having a pet-friendly policy it opens the door to a bigger tenant pool and hopefully this will result in a quicker tenancy.

Longer tenancy

A lot of landlords have a no-pet policy and therefore this makes for a smaller rental market for a pet owner. Pet owners know this, so when they find a property that accommodates their furry friends they will be very keen to stay as long as they can.

Happier tenants!

Pets can make a place feel like home. They are known to reduce stress and this will certainly contribute to happier and more responsible tenants.

Cons for having a pet-friendly policy

Damage to property

It's safe to say that not all pets are little angels! They can chew, bite, scratch, dig and ...you know what in all the wrong places and you are left to repair the damage once the tenant has moved out. 

Noise

Some animals are left by themselves all day and can whine, howl or bark without restraint. This is very disturbing for the neighbours and can result in a flurry of complaints landing in your inbox. Of course they can also be noisy at night.

Safety risk

It is possible that an unruly dog could bite or show aggressive behaviour towards other tenants putting their safety at risk. Cats can climb through other tenant's windows and cause trouble where they are not welcome. This again ends up being the landlord's problem and has the potential of being very serious.

The decision to make your rental property pet-friendly may seem to you to be quite risky. However, with careful screening and consideration you can very successfully rent to pet-loving tenants. Choose what is right for you and by so doing will help towards a stress free and happy  pet-friendly rental experience. If you need help finding the perfect rental, get in touch with us today.