We talk to a number of rental property owners who are hesitant to allow pets into their investment properties. That’s understandable; there are valid concerns to consider around potential property damage and noise. There’s also some extra liability.
However, with the right strategies, you can attract responsible pet owners while ensuring your property remains well-maintained and safe. As professional property managers in Kansas City, MO, we have a lot of experience dealing with pets and the tenants who treat them like part of their own family. If you’ve ever had a dog or a cat you love – it’s easy to understand how these tenants prioritize finding a happy and safe home for their furry friends.
To help with the decision around allowing pets into your property and to attract responsible pet owners who will keep your headaches and your risk to a minimum, we have some tips and strategies that may be a good guide for putting together a pet policy. We’ll also talk about setting some standards and restrictions when you’re screening pets.
Why Go Pet-Friendly with your Kansas City Rental?
Yes, animals are unpredictable. Even the most pampered pet can go rogue on a random day and attack an unsuspecting neighbor. The healthiest and best-behaved cat can create a mess outside of the litter box that takes a lot of cleaning and repair work to address. Pets are a risk.
Expanding Your Market
Kansas City is home to a large community of pet lovers. Many of those pet owners are tenants looking for their next home. By making your rental property pet-friendly, you open your doors to a larger pool of potential tenants. Many families and individuals are willing to pay a premium for a place that welcomes their furry companions. You will have fewer vacancies and lower turnover rates. With more than half of the tenant pool owning at least one pet, by not allowing them, you’ll cut out a huge section of potential tenants. That may leave you with a vacant property for longe
Responsible Pet Owners
Not all pet owners are the same. Most of the pet owners we rent have been responsible. They want to create a good home for their animals. By implementing proper screening processes, you can find responsible tenants who treat their pets well and take pride in maintaining their living space.
Offering a Pet-Friendly Rental Property
You want to be welcoming and you want to open up your property to pets, but you want to make sure you’re getting responsible pet owners and pets who are clean, healthy, and well-behaved. We recommend a strong screening process and a clear pet policy. Once you have those things in place, you can make it a priority to advertise your rental home as a pet-friendly property, which will attract good tenants and responsible pet owners.
Pet Screening
Screen your incoming pets almost as carefully as you screen your incoming tenants. A lot of landlords insist on meeting the pet. This is a good way to judge their behavior and whether they’re hyper, bark a lot, etc. If you don’t have an interest in meeting the pet, at least ask for a picture. This way, you can identify the pet when you’re at the property or your vendors are there.
Ask for vet records. You want to know that the tenant takes care of the pet's health and especially is good about keeping up to date with vaccines and precautions such as flea and tick treatments.
Also, make sure you ask about the pet when you’re conducting rental reference checks on the tenant. Ask former landlords if there were any issues with the animal. This will tell you a lot about the pet’s demeanor and how your prospective tenant takes care of their animal.
Develop a Clear Pet Policy
Having a well-defined pet policy is essential for establishing expectations and protecting your property. This policy should be included in your lease agreement and make sure it includes the following information and requirements:
Pet Types Allowed
Specify which types of pets are allowed (e.g., dogs, cats, birds). You might assume that we’re only talking about dogs and cats, but there are plenty of pet owners out there who want to move in with exotic snakes, reptiles, and other animals you might not anticipate. Be specific in the lease and in the pet policy. Are you willing to allow guinea pigs? Ferrets? A large saltwater fish tank?
Breed Restrictions
Assuming you’re going to allow dogs, you’ll need to decide whether you want to have any breed restrictions in place. This decision might come down to what your insurance company will allow. Many insurers keep a dangerous breed list, and they will not cover any damage or injury caused by a tenant’s pet Rottweiler, for example. If you’re going to allow dangerous breeds, we recommend that you ask your tenant to carry enough of their own insurance to cover any risk.
Limits and Restrictions
You want to be specific about how many pets are allowed, what their ages might be, and whether you have any restrictions on height and weight. Set a maximum weight limit for pets to prevent damage to the property. You can say that you’ll allow dogs and cats that are under 20 pounds, for example. Or, you can allow adult cats and dogs but not kittens and puppies. You can say one pet per person or three pets in total
Tips for Attracting Responsible Pet Owners
How can you be sure you’re attracting the types of pet owners who will make good tenants? We recommend that you focus on your marketing, and make your pet-friendly features a big part of attracting good residents.
Advertise Pet-Friendly Features
Highlight features that make your property accommodating for pets. Maybe you’ll provide a fenced yard, which provides a secure outdoor space where pets can roam freely. You might also be able to advertise your durable flooring. Dog and cat owners will prefer hard surface floors like laminate, wood, or tile. These floors are easier to keep clean and maintain than carpet. Plus, the carpet will trap pet odors, dust, and dander. If your rental property is close to dog parks or pet-friendly areas, you want to let prospective tenants know because it encourages pet owners to settle in your property.
Create a Welcoming Environment
A pet-friendly ambiance can make a strong impression on prospective tenants. You can add pet amenities, such as fencing or a place to hose off a dog that may have been playing in the yard. A cat door might be appreciated by a tenant who has an indoor/outdoor feline.
Market Your Property Effectively
When listing your property, ensure your marketing materials reflect your pet-friendly policies or that you’re at least willing to consider pets. This will attract more prospective residents to you, and increase the number of showings, applications, and lease agreements that come through. When you’re marketing, use social media as well as popular rental listing sites. Use keywords in your marketing such as “pet-friendly” so that you’re reaching the pet owners you’re trying to attract.
Attracting responsible pet owners to your rental property in Kansas City, MO, requires a thoughtful approach that both welcomes pets and pet owners and also protects your property against the damage that can be done. By screening carefully, developing a clear pet policy, showcasing pet-friendly features, and effectively marketing your property, you can create an inviting environment that appeals to pet lovers.
We can help you put together a strong pet policy and attract good renters to your property. Contact us at Rent Robin, LLC for all of your Kansas City property management needs.
