Whew. I'm 'bout done fighting the whole pets thing. I don't like pets in my rentals at all...but wow... almost all applicants seem to have 'em nowdays... and lots of 'em have "ESA's"...yeh.

On my 2BR / 1BA little houses... I'm thinkin' bout just accepting cat or dog with addl. $500 deposit per animal, addl $35 per month. Gotta' meet the animal...and do in-home visit.

I don't like it... but kinda' at a loss what else to do.

Doesn't solve the ESA prob...but I can work hard to rent it to those without ESA.

Screen the animal, too. Vet confirmation of being "fixed", vaccinated, their breed.

What caveman thought having dog(s) in the house

was a good idea ?

Ned,

Another approach (if you do decide to take an animal) is to make your rental "animal-inclusive".

Charge higher rent (with the extra pet rent built in) and higher security deposit(with the pet deposit built in).

If you don't look like you charge more for their pet, it eliminates the false ESA claims, because they do that to avoid paying more for their animals.

Since C0v1d, the government basically gave license for people not to pay their bills. Between human nature and poor breeding, it is now "normal" to have a basement credit score, employment optional, skip out on a LL, have the wrong priorities (ink, new kicks, vapes/cigs/mj/drugs)etc.

Our government doesn't pay its bills.

A large percentage of our IRS agents don't pay their taxes.

And everyone is sucking at the government milk container.

But...here in the deep somewhat conservative south, I have no problems finding decent tenants. Rents and property values are still rapidly rising. I'm having more of a problem finding that next diamond in the rough to purchase.

NE, what is presented here for screening hasn't worked for me and I've noted a few LL's from WI on this forum have said the same.

I can ask for credit, employment, cking acct, ck stubs, but no one will fill in the prequal. Last time I tried it, I got two people filling it out and they very sadly did not qualify in any way. The better tenants here are not used to the prequalify and I haven't seen it required on the apartments or other here.

DJ's approach works well if you're under market, but if you're having to compete with other similar units that do NOT include the pet rent and a pet deposit in their base rate, you're going to look considerably more expensive to folks who don't have pets. As our good friend Brad mentions here frquently, over 70% of tenants have pets... but that means 30% do NOT have pets. No reason to alienate 3 out of 10 prospects by making your unit look significantly harder to get into.

ESAs aren't hard to deal with. Just require that they provide the correct documentation. The fakers can't because they've never gone through the proper process and don't know what is legit. They just went to a "how to avoid pet deposit" website and "registered" their ESA. So they spent almost as much as my pet registration fee to get a worthless digital certificate and still end up owning me a pet registration and pet rent. I've got two tenants like that right now.

Also, I will note this... most folks don't like to move frequently. And there's nothing that says you cannot increase your rent and deposit requirements when your lease renews. At that point, the sky is the limit and unless you live in a state where you're required to give a reason, I'd just say, "This is the new rent and deposit if you want to stay." If they refuse, then they move.

ESAs that do damages or are aggressive toward you and your helpers are not given any special status. They, like any other animal, are the owner's responsibility, and if they're breaking the lease as a result, you can evict, non-renew, and charge for damages.

Ned,

My phrase "Find what people want and let them pay you for it".

Turn lemons into lemonade.

Why don't you want animals?

Carpet free and the In Home Visit makes animals easy...and PROFITABLE. Could you find a way to manage animals in your homes?

Each animal is worth $420/year in your pocket.

We have 76 animals (just added 2) in our homes with ZERO damage and mo monee.

76 x $35 = $2660 per month x 12 = $31,920 per year.

Plus the $150 Non-Refundable Animal Registration Fee = $11,400 at lease signing.

Something to consider.

BRAD

We advertise-

Everyone must have renters insurance the first year. Ask how we can waive that requirement in year two. I am looking for items that will be considered high risk and sharing that with our agent. They make the final call, but animals are an item in that business decision. Please note that it is a BUSINESS DECISION unless it is directly IDed as service animal.