Pets
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Pets (by Jim in O C [CA]) Feb 6, 2024 7:20 PM
       Pets (by BillW [NJ]) Feb 6, 2024 8:03 PM
       Pets (by Pat [CA]) Feb 6, 2024 8:20 PM
       Pets (by 6x6 [TN]) Feb 6, 2024 8:26 PM
       Pets (by WMH [NC]) Feb 6, 2024 8:47 PM
       Pets (by BRAD 20,000 [IN]) Feb 6, 2024 8:54 PM
       Pets (by Vee [OH]) Feb 6, 2024 9:17 PM
       Pets (by Robert J [CA]) Feb 7, 2024 12:01 AM
       Pets (by Jim in O C [CA]) Feb 7, 2024 4:43 AM
       Pets (by Ray-N-Pa [PA]) Feb 7, 2024 7:27 AM
       Pets (by RB [TN]) Feb 7, 2024 8:42 AM
       Pets (by Moshe [CA]) Feb 7, 2024 10:47 AM
       Pets (by Jim in O C [CA]) Feb 7, 2024 1:00 PM
       Pets (by WMH [NC]) Feb 7, 2024 1:18 PM
       Pets (by AllyM [NJ]) Feb 7, 2024 1:25 PM
       Pets (by WMH [NC]) Feb 7, 2024 1:27 PM
       Pets (by Moshe [CA]) Feb 7, 2024 2:22 PM
       Pets (by MAT [PA]) Feb 7, 2024 5:37 PM
       Pets (by 6x6 [TN]) Feb 7, 2024 6:11 PM
       Pets (by BRAD 20,000 [IN]) Feb 9, 2024 12:09 AM
       Pets (by CDM [CA]) Feb 11, 2024 10:49 PM


Pets (by Jim in O C [CA]) Posted on: Feb 6, 2024 7:20 PM
Message:

It seems like 99% of renters have a pets. Cats have cost me well over $7,000 and dogs probably $10,000. Then we have the service animals and emotional support animals that are really pets. How are you other landlords dealing with this dilemma?

--23.162.xx.xx




Pets (by BillW [NJ]) Posted on: Feb 6, 2024 8:03 PM
Message:

how did they cost you $7,000 and $10,000? In damages or are you buying fancy cats and dogs? If damages, wouldn't this come out of security deposits?

I rent to students and allow 1 cat (2 if they are siblings) and no dogs. --96.242.xx.xx




Pets (by Pat [CA]) Posted on: Feb 6, 2024 8:20 PM
Message:

Starting in June of this year CA landlords will only be allowed to collect a deposit equal to one month's rent. However we can charge a monthly pet rent. I had tenants living in one of my rentals for 2 years, when they decided to get an emotional support animal, a pitbull. Since I could not charge a deposit, I raised the rent because their lease ended. --172.56.xxx.xxx




Pets (by 6x6 [TN]) Posted on: Feb 6, 2024 8:26 PM
Message:

Just guessing but probably closer to 90% with animals. It really seemed to explode during the scam a few years back. However, the tenant scam seems to be ongoing. It is hard to just try and disqualify the scammers because there are so many of them that not many non-scammers are out there. Perhaps just try and adjust your rents upward for everyone. I have done that and offered free animals in the past. It stops the scamming but does increase your risk if they qualify otherwise. But then you have to ask yourself, "Do I really want to rent to someone who would likely have claimed ESA had I not offered free animals?". It is an ongoing problem that seems to multiply. --73.190.xxx.xxx




Pets (by WMH [NC]) Posted on: Feb 6, 2024 8:47 PM
Message:

We advertise as pet-friendly, and we are. We collect our state's max SD (2x the rent) and don't charge pet rent as we used to. VERY VERY few inquiries with ESAs as a result.

BUT we do limit quantity. If someone inquires with multiple animals, we respond that they have too many for this unit. No one has ever come back with the complicated scheme that one is an ESA and one is a Service Animal,etc.

Could happen, just hasn't. --173.28.xx.xxx




Pets (by BRAD 20,000 [IN]) Posted on: Feb 6, 2024 8:54 PM
Message:

Jim,

To quote Mike Butler "Who is the XXXX manager that let these animals IN!?!?"

You have seen my posts about this in the past.

We have over 65 animals in our homes and I can legitimately say our animal damage is ZERO.

The 2 Minute In Home Visit is the major factor. We visit their current home, smell it, look for animal damage, and meet the animals. I have denied MANY applicants who looks great on paper but cannot control their animal.

BTW it's the HUMANS that are the problem, not caring for or not training the animals. You actually have a HUMAN problem.

Fees don't seem to slow the applicants signing new leases.

$150 No-Refundable Animal Registration Fee per animal

$35 Animal Fee per month per animal.

$350 fine for unauthorized or visiting animals, each occurence. Keep a watchful eye for sneakers coming in.

We limit to 2 animals, no dogs in multi apts.

Also carpet free homes makes a HUGE difference.

BRAD

--73.103.xxx.xxx




Pets (by Vee [OH]) Posted on: Feb 6, 2024 9:17 PM
Message:

Bill animal/human damage in next rent cycle, most areas do not allow using any of the deposit until the unit is returned to manager, then the detail is described in the accounting statement. --184.59.xxx.xx




Pets (by Robert J [CA]) Posted on: Feb 7, 2024 12:01 AM
Message:

I know an animal behavioral specialist who's given me some fruit for thought.

A) Here in my town, all dogs have to be licensed annually.

B) I require all of my tenants to have "Renters Insurance" that covers their property, children, pets, service animals and emotional support as well.

C) I question the human care giver on their knowledge on how to care and control their "animals". They always say they had dogs can cats as children.

I respond by saying, sure, and you walked the dog and changed the litter box every day, I'm sure. It was your parents that took care and paid for the medical care. SHOW ME YOUR RECEIPTS FOR VACCINATIONS, ANIMAL NUTRIENTS, ETC.

D) I point to their car that they have detailed, washed and vacuumed several times a month. But almost never take their pet to a vet.

If the applicant does not have proof of obedience training, license, medical care and property insurance-- they can pound sand. I'm not renting to them. --47.155.xx.xxx




Pets (by Jim in O C [CA]) Posted on: Feb 7, 2024 4:43 AM
Message:

The $7,000’and $10,000 losses were mostly pet damage and lost rent. My last ESA dog came in a year after they moved in so no 2 minute walk thru. My $7000 cat damage was an unauthorized cat. I didn’t discover it until i changed the furnace filter 5 months later . Neither tenant has the funds to recover the damage so it would be throwing good money after bad.

we d

A --23.162.xx.xx




Pets (by Ray-N-Pa [PA]) Posted on: Feb 7, 2024 7:27 AM
Message:

Don't go against the trend - go with the trend instead. If the loins share of folks have animals, assume everyone has an animal and reverse engineer your systems to CYA and your investment.

Advertise that your units are pet friendly - But require renters insurance for everyone. Limit this to two animals and then charge $300/month for that third animal.

Meet the animals in advance and take pictures to send to your insurance agent. If the agent will not underwrite that risk, should you be taking that risk yourself?

Look at how you customizing the units so that animal damage can be lowered. Have an animal screening form like your people application. ask who the vet is and if the animal has proof of having there shots. No Vet or no shots - no home for the person who isn't taking care of the thing that they love. So will these folks take care of the thing that you love - your real estate investment? --24.101.xxx.xxx




Pets (by RB [TN]) Posted on: Feb 7, 2024 8:42 AM
Message:

"We have over 65 animals in our homes and I can

legitimately say our animal damage is ZERO".

I don't care who endorses this nonsense,

the above statement is fluffed up Bullfeathers

and 100% impossible. --69.130.xxx.xxx




Pets (by Moshe [CA]) Posted on: Feb 7, 2024 10:47 AM
Message:

"How are you other landlords dealing with this dilemma?"

I don't allow pets.

--47.139.x.xxx




Pets (by Jim in O C [CA]) Posted on: Feb 7, 2024 1:00 PM
Message:

Moshe, do you allow legitimate service animals and emotional support animals? --23.162.xx.xx




Pets (by WMH [NC]) Posted on: Feb 7, 2024 1:18 PM
Message:

RB you are always accusing others of lying - I can believe that Brad has zero pet damage THAT COSTS HIM MONEY. We have a move-out coming up and the tenant confessed three blinds had been destroyed by their dogs - and they went and bought new blinds. If they had not, we would have and billed their deposit. So still zero OOP expense to us.

In fact, I would say MOST of our houses that have pets have damaged blinds at move-out but we just replace on the tenant's dime, no one complains, and we can honestly declare "No pet damage here!" --173.28.xx.xxx




Pets (by AllyM [NJ]) Posted on: Feb 7, 2024 1:25 PM
Message:

I did have a 10K repair bill years ago when the tenant had physical problems and could no longer change the litter box. She had a responsible job but was totally a mess at the unit. I had to buy her out before a state inspection. When she came to view the unit she had food spots on her shirt and people, know that is going to be a sign of not caring about much of any cleaning. The credit report said she had a judgement but I didn't know what that meant. Now I am able to keep people for 20 years because I let them have small cats or dogs and I don't have "set outs" or evictions either. I have one unit with two ladies and one cat. Below them is their sister with two small dogs that go out into the fenced yard. I have a college grad student with a tiny dog that gets walked. I have a couple with a clean cat and they are very clean personally. I have a small family with two cats and a small dog and the mom is very clean with the litter boxes and the little dog. I use olefin commercial rugs in a beige tone and those can be out in a couple hours after painting is done and I am back on the road. Worst problem was the cat mentioned and then a lunatic came in with a rabbit and I could not see it was nibbling the floor tiles, self stick, which required two rooms of tile to replace as it was a combo kitchen dining room. Rabbits are bad. Tenant left their dirty litter in the hall and upstairs tenant got the smell. I did not know it was happening as the tenant would take the bag out next morning early and I never got to see it except one time but too late the upstairs was leaving. --173.61.xxx.xxx




Pets (by WMH [NC]) Posted on: Feb 7, 2024 1:27 PM
Message:

In fact, sometimes pet damage is a blessing in disguise. We had a giant Great Dane absolutely ruin some carpet - but the carpet was old and ugly anyway and we were planning to replace it at some point. He just pushed the time frame up. And the Tenant's deposit paid for the new Allure flooring. Allure is cheaper and easier and far faster than carpet and their deposit covered it all without a squeak of protest from them: they knew the carpet was ruined and were glad they didn't owe MORE.

Now any carpet in that particular house are throw rugs that belong to tenants and that's their issue, not ours. --173.28.xx.xxx




Pets (by Moshe [CA]) Posted on: Feb 7, 2024 2:22 PM
Message:

"Moshe, do you allow legitimate service animals and emotional support animals?"

Not unless I have to.

So far, I have never had to.

--47.139.x.xxx




Pets (by MAT [PA]) Posted on: Feb 7, 2024 5:37 PM
Message:

I assume everyone has or will get an animal, and build it into my rent for everyone. Of course I still need to know about all animals. And if an applicant claims an ESA, their application gets some close scrutiny. --108.52.xxx.xxx




Pets (by 6x6 [TN]) Posted on: Feb 7, 2024 6:11 PM
Message:

WMH, I am trying to determine how a person can say that they have pet damage and yet can say that they don't have pet damage because the deposit covered the damage?

Why not just say that we have pet damage at times, but the deposit has always covered it?

I think, don't know, that RB was merely going by what a person might logically assume given the subject matter and numbers. It would be hard to imagine, just from human experience, that with 65 animals that there would be no damage. That said, I can see how that doing an in-home visit would be preventative maintenance. If the tenants animals were doing damage than it should be discovered at that time. I will give this more thought.

--73.190.xxx.xxx




Pets (by BRAD 20,000 [IN]) Posted on: Feb 9, 2024 12:09 AM
Message:

Zero pet damage means no damage. Yes, it is possible. There ARE 65 animals with responsible owners in the world.

We're getting mostly 100% clean move outs because I follow WMH's lead on setting expectations at move out.

Deep screening, 2 Minute In Home Visit, carpet free...it's not hard.

BRAD --73.103.xxx.xxx




Pets (by CDM [CA]) Posted on: Feb 11, 2024 10:49 PM
Message:

Those of you who say you "build having animals into your rent," how much of an increase in rent does that mean? --98.210.xx.xxx





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