First time renter signed a lease having no pets. She's pretty young in her 20s. One month into the lease she texts me, "What is your caged pets policy? Would I be allowed to have something like that?"

What have other people done in these circumstances? After all one of the reasons we picked her was of course, the no pets. And of course, they could smuggling animals in even if you say no.

I answered back, "It may require a lease addendum and a pet deposit could be involved, what animal are you looking at getting"? hoping its not one of many

I've actually never had this happen before, had a renter with no pets then ask to become a pet renter. Of course you don't want them to sour on the apartment and want to take off but maybe a hard no might be the way to start out?

Not sure if this would help but I have an "animal resident policy" gleaned mostly from this site.

It has 7 bullet points:

1. No dogs younger than 6 months (housebreaking)

2. No aggressive breeds that can cause cancellation of insurance (does she have tenant's insurance? she'll definitely need it if she has animal(s)

3. Limit of 3 animals per household**

4. In home inspection (all types) Animals must be uncrated at the time (I would be willing to forgo the uncrated rule for tarantulas).

5. No aggressive/harmful/destructive behavior (all types)

6. Shots/vet records/licensing/alternative caregiver paperwork required

7. (insert blurb about ESA/HUD paperwork/separate nexxus)

Odds are she already has moved the animal resident in.

**probably unenforceable with ESAs IF they have separate nexxi

FWIW: I would have replied that," this is a no-pet property, as you agreed when you signed the lease".

I make it very clear before tenants move in that there will be no animals added without written permission and the only pets I allow are dogs. So that's a big "no" from me about the caged pet.

>>I would have replied. "you'd have to have this animal goin into the lease, after a year we can reevaluate the caged pet">>

Well I still don't know what the pet is. The way she phrased it suggested a hamster or gerbil, or lizard. I'm not too worried about those.

If she writes back and says its a dog or even a cat, and she's pushing "caged" as in oh yeah I'll keep it caged when I'm at work, I can always say, "I checked with partners and.... you'd have to have this animal going into the lease, after a year we can reevaluate."

I have trouble holding tenants in this apartment longer than a year, and the constant turnover and interviewing is draining. So you know, you can want the world but starting them thinking "If I went back to live with Mom I can have my hamster and live rent free" is not something I want to start. Its a touchy road.

I've also been told, "Tenants that rent solo are less likely to stay" as well as "Tenants with pets are more likely to stay, because its harder for them to find other apartments."

And of course, pets destroy apartments.

So choose your poison, I know.

I would never rent to someone who kept a dog caged all day.

First it will never work, but even if they stick to it, its just too cruel. I don't like the thought of the poor animal sitting in a little cage day after day.

Let them rent in the barns, so they can claw chew pee and poo free and clear........

>>> A ferret or a rabbit is much worse than a lizard in a terrarium, but all caged pets come with problems..>>>>

What problems have you experienced with these? Do go on

>>" this is a no-pet property, as you agreed when you signed the lease".>>

I know how this forum delights in "You shouldn't have done its!" and "Too late nows!"..... but quite frankly no permission or decision has been given yet, and saying I've checked with my partners and they are saying this is a no pet property is certainly still an option.

Anyway I'm also well aware that saying this is a no-pet property can also easily result in them smuggling the pet in anyway, so you may as well get a pet deposit out of it.

Also the thought of her having to pay money to put down a pet deposit may yet put a damper on her could be momentary and whimsical pet cravings.

We'll see.

Maybe next time before responding, come and write on here for some direction. This avoids the TO LATE NOW.

Rabbits chew on everything and they poop everywhere, even so called "trained" ones. FERRET's stink to high heaven.

Duplexer, I think you'd get less "too late now" responses if you didn't text right back to your tenants. I've seen you post numerous text responses that made me wince, honestly.

Might try running your immediate response by someone else first?

[[[[[......What problems have you experienced with these? Do go on.......]]]]]]

I've experienced very little problem with them because I don't allow them.

Rabbits and ferrets stink and poop and poop on the carpet if they are allowed to run loose, which they most like will be. My son purchased a house where the tenants allowed their ferrets to play in the heating duct work and the stinky ferret poop was all through the duct work and all the duct work had to be replaced.

Rabbits chew on wood and that includes baseboard and kitchen cabinets.

Birds throw their seed all over and that attracts mice, plus bird poop hardens like concrete on walls and floors. And any hook bill bird will chew on woodwork. Large parrots make an ungodly loud amount of noise.

Lizards are fed insects and the insects can get loose. The lizards and snakes can get loose. The mice fed to snakes can get loose.

If the cage is larger than 25 gallons the answer is no, iguana, bearded dragon and fish make good companions and require responsible owners just like kittens and birds.

A tenant got a large 6 foot x 4 foot x 3 feet tall cage for their Parents Dog. Mom had medical issues and they had to house the dog until she gets better. The dog in the cage barked non-stop.

I took a picture of the dog and drove to the parents house and talked with the neighbors. They all confirmed this was my tenants dog, the daughters, and not the mon's. The mom took the dog when I rented to the daughter, but because it barks always, the mon told the daughter to pick up the dog or she would send it to the pound.

The next day I posted a 3 day notice to comply or quit.

THEY ARE FERRETS.

Two of them. A friend can't keep them she says and she wants to take them in the apartment.

Wonder why her friend has to get rid of them?

>>>I've seen you post numerous text responses that made me wince, honestly.>>>

@ WMH [NC] Well that makes two of us! LOL

>>Often I write responses to tenant inquiries and send them to my DH first - curbs any knee-jerk responses. --74.110.xxx.xx

>>>

Well I feel like kneeing you, jerk. How's that for a response?

ehhh.... Why do some people even bother to participate in a forum. They're certainly not accomplishing anything except displaying their own ill-mannered rudeness

ferrets are a hard no indeed. I had that happen when I had a pm managing. tenant let them roam and they peed or whatever everywhere and it was the worst smell I ever encountered. it lasted several years. new tenants wouldn't recognize it but I could still smell a whif for a long time.

I actually got a ferret once. Guy said he couldn't keep it because his mom was allergic.

It got out of the cage constantly. It ate all the erasers off my pencils and the smell. Well the smell was horrid.

Would not let a tenant have a ferret without a HUGE deposit and even more huge pet rent.

[[[[[[........ Well I feel like kneeing you, jerk. How's that for a response?

ehhh.... Why do some people even bother to participate in a forum. They're certainly not accomplishing anything except displaying their own ill-mannered rudeness.....]]]]]]]

LOTS of useful information on this thread and then peppered with the usual few quips from not-so-helpful jerks. But nothing like the Ebay forums haha.

Duplexer, thanks for the invitation but I no longer know anything about selling on eBay - although I was an eBay Power Seller back in the day when that was a thing (got the actual T-shirt!)

However, I *do* know about rentals, and tenant communication, having done this full-time since about 2003, so going on 20 years now. Close to 40 units these days. Made PLENTY of mistakes early on, including knee-jerk responses and too-quick reactions to perceived tenant texts and taunts. In fact, it wasn't until 2010 that our business turned around - when we met Mr. Landlord and went to his Convention. And opened ourselves to well-meaning advice.

All communications with tenants and prospects these days are professional and thought-out - because I *do* ask for input from others and listen to it, too.

We told her No Ferrets, building policy.

Well her rent was due today and no rent, and no answer by text or phone.

Will have to drive by and see if she's bolted with her 'babies', leaving the usual tenant trash heap behind.

If so I'll be ahead in the long run, but another grueling month of labor ahead with cleanup and interviewing.

uchhhhh.......