Did you know that more than 90.5 million American families own a pet? For many people looking to rent, their pets are like children. They want to live in a rental property that works for both them and their pet.
Are you looking for ways to increase your tenant pool, as well as command strong rents? Pet friendly rental properties are the perfect way to do it. Keep reading, and we’ll help you understand how to make your rental property perfect for tenants and their furry pals.
1. Easy Outdoor Access
While cats are popular pets for tenants, more people own dogs. Tenants with dogs can struggle to find a rental property with everything they need. If you want to attract pet owners with dogs, you need easy outdoor access.
Doggie doors are perfect for rental properties because pet owners can let their dogs out into the yard. The convenience of a doggy door can also reduce potential property damage caused by animals pawing at the door or relieving themselves indoors. Thankfully, dog doors are easy to install.
2. Avoid Carpeting
Accidents can happen, and many pet owners will do their best to clean up after their pet. However, wear and tear from pets can add up over time and it can be expensive to replace carpeting after every tenant.
Instead of carpet, considering using vinyl floor planks or luxury vinyl flooring instead. Vinyl flooring is resistant to liquids, odors, and scratches. It’s nearly impossible for pets to damage vinyl flooring.
This flooring is easy to clean and lasts for years. The durability of your flooring can help to prevent property damage. It also makes cleaning after a renter moves out much easier. Plus, it will help your tenant to keep their full security deposit, which should always be your goal.
3. Be Flexible About Breeds
Often when you list a property for rent, you will be competing with nearby apartment complexes for potential tenants. Many apartment buildings will limit the dog breeds that their tenants can have on site. Sometimes, they will also cap the weight of pets, with an upper limit of 40-50 pounds being very common.
This is great news for you, because being flexible about pet weights and breeds can help your property stand out from the crowd. In particular, you might want to lift restrictions on the dog breeds that allow you allow. You can still do background checks on pets, but not limiting breeds will widen your tenant pool.
Another factor that can reduce your tenant pool is having high fees, rent, and deposits for pets. Instead, consider charging a one-time fee for pets. Paying a reasonable one-time fee instead of pet rent will often draw more pet owners to your property.
4. Be Accessible to Service Animals
Many disabled tenants can struggle to find rental units that allow their service animals and are accessible. Service animals help people with disabilities live their lives. Because of the Fair Housing Act, you cannot and should not charge deposits or fees for service animals.
You can make an apartment accessible by following ADA requirements.
Including handicapped parking, elevators, and laundry machines with audio and visual signals are easy ways to make your rental more accessible.
5. Create Fenced In Areas
Humans won’t be the only ones living in your rental property — you can to add some luxuries for pets too. Doing this will show pet owners that you value their pets just as much as they do.
Always make sure to maintain a grassy area on your property where pets can play, run around, and go to the bathroom. For single family rental units, adding fencing can be a huge draw to tenants who want their pets to be able to roam around off-leash.
Fencing will also allow your tenants to be able to throw open the door when their four-legged friends need an unsupervised bathroom break.
Of course, pets can track in mud after a good walk. Placing hoses near doorways or installing wash stations can give pet owners a chance to wash off their furry friends before coming back inside.
Make Your Rental Pet Friendly
Pet friendly rental properties can increase your tenant pool and support strong rents. Pet friendly rentals can be hard to find, so if a tenant feels they have found a good fit for themselves and their four-legged friend(s), they’ll be more likely to stick around year after year.
Creating flexible pet policies, adding doggie doors, putting accessibility first, and adding fencing can help your property to be wonderfully pet-friendly.
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