There are 59.8 million dog-owning households in the United States, according to the American Veterinary Medical Association.
So if you don’t accept dogs in your rental property, you are leaving out a lot of potential tenants for your rental property. This can mean not getting maximum profits for your property.
However, if you do accept dogs, you have to deal with the issues that dogs can cause, such as dog odors, stains they can cause, and also the damage they can create to your rental property.
You should clearly communicate maintenance responsibilities with your tenants, and it should be made clear in the lease. There should also be a proactive maintenance plan to deal with damage they can cause.
Pet Deposit for Dogs
You can charge a pet fee or pet rent (non-refundable) to proactively pay for normal wear and tear damage done by dogs.
A pet deposit for dogs is paid upfront and refundable, similar to a security deposit. It safeguards against potential damage done by dogs, such as scratched floors, chewed-up carpets, or stains.
Since it’s refundable if no damage occurs, the money is returned to the tenant.
Problems that Dogs Can Cause: Dog Urine Odor, Dog Stains
Dogs can be joyful companions; they also can introduce challenges to a property. Some common problems are:
- Dog urine odor
- Stains on carpets and floors
Dog Urine Odor – When dogs are untrained, they can leave urine on floors and carpets. This can leave a lingering odor that seeps into the house, making it difficult to remove.
Dog Stains – Urine stains, paw prints, and dog scratches can leave permanent spots and marks on flooring, future, and walls. This can lower the value of your rental property.
Solutions to Problems Caused by Dogs – Carpet Cleaner, Urine Smell Remover, Lease Clauses
Now that you know the problems dogs can cause, as a property manager, you should proactively think of solutions such as:
- Carpet cleaners
- Urine smell remover
- Lease clauses for renters
Carpet Cleaner – A high-quality enzyme-based cleaner that breaks down urine molecules rather than just a scent masker is absolutely required. Regular steam cleaning to get rid of stains in carpets should be a regular part of the maintenance plan for your rental property.
What is the Best Carpet Cleaner for Dog Urine?
According to Spruce Pets the best three carpet cleaners to deal with dog stains and urine are:
- Oxiclean Carpet Stain Remover
- Kids ‘N’ Pets Instant All-Purpose Stain & Odor Remover
- Angry Orange Ready-to-Use Citrus Pet Odor Eliminator Spray
Urine Smell Remover – Enzyme-based urine removers are designed to neutralize pet odors at a molecular level. They are effective because they break down the uric acid in urine, which is the main culprit leading to odor.
You can also try home-made natural methods. Mix equal parts white vinegar and water in a spray bottle and spray the area. After cleaning, sprinkle baking soda to absorb urine odor.
Lease Clauses – One of the best things you can do as a landlord is to clearly depict tenant responsibilities in the lease agreement. You should think about lease terms about pet damage, tenant regular maintenance activities such as deep cleaning and proactive repairs for damage done by their dogs. Also consider additional pet rent and pet deposit for damage to be fixed after the tenant moves out.
How can SimplifyEm help if your tenants have Dogs?
SimplifyEm Property Management Software provides key functionalities to manage dogs in a rental property:
Rental lease agreements with E-signature that can have comprehensive lease terms to handle dogs as pets.
Keeping track of rent, pet rent, and pet deposits for accurate tenant bookkeeping
Schedule Task and Work Orders to help you proactively maintain your rental property.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) – on Managing Dogs in Apartments
- Should I allow dogs in my rental property?
The benefits of allowing dogs in your rental property are many:
- Larger tenant applicant pool: Many renters have pets, so more people will consider your property.
- Higher rent: Since fewer property managers are willing to accept pets, you can charge pet rent and/or pet fees which increases your income.
- More likely to stay longer – Since Pet owners have fewer rental options, they are most likely to stay longer.
The Costs of allowing dogs also have to be considered:
- Property damage: Dogs are known to create scratch marks, chew through items and leave a lingering odor
- Noise issues: If you’re managing a multi-unit property, you have to consider the noise dogs can cause which could disturb other tenants.
- Liability: Dogs can bite someone, which could create legal exposure for you. You should be well insured.
- What are the properties of an effective carpet cleaner for pet urine?
A carpet cleaner for pet urine should have the following qualities:
- Enzyme based formula that can break down uric acid, which causes an unpleasant smell from urine.
- It should also neutralize odor.
- Urine can leave a yellow stain, your carpet cleaner should have an oxygen-based or hydrogen peroxide-based stain remover.
- It should be pet-safe.
- Is it good to be considered a Pet Friendly Apartment?
There are many benefits to being considered pet friendly:
- Larger pool of tenants
- Ability to charge higher rent
- Tenant likely to stay longer
- Potentially more responsible tenants since they are responsible for pets.
- Helps your property standout in a competitive market
There are some costs you should consider as well:
- Property Damage Risk
- Odor maintenance
- Noise and liability risks
Sources:
https://www.avma.org/resources-tools/reports-statistics/us-pet-ownership-statistics
https://www.thesprucepets.com/best-carpet-cleaner-solutions-for-pets-4174466
