Are you wondering whether or not you should permit pets in a rental property you own in the Chevy Chase, MD area? This is something you're going to have to make a final decision on sooner or later.
About 70% of American households own at least one pet. As a result, you're going to have tenants ask you if they're allowed to have pets at some point.
To decide if you should let tenants keep pets in a rental property, you should consider the pros and cons associated with doing it. Learn about the pros and cons below.
The Pros of Allowing Pets in a Rental Property
There are tens of millions of American households with pets living in them right now. Because of this, the biggest pro of allowing pets in a rental property is that you'll open your rental up to a much wider audience.
If you don't allow pets in a rental property, you'll limit the total number of people who could potentially move into one that you own. It's something to think about before shooting down the idea of letting pets live in a rental property.
Here are a few more pros that'll come along with letting pets live in a rental property:
- You'll be able to charge more rent to pet owners
- You'll be able to accommodate those who rely on support animals
- You'll be able to find responsible pet owners who will take good care of their pets and your rental property
You shouldn't automatically dismiss the idea of allowing pets in a rental property. It could end up working to your advantage in some cases.
The Cons of Allowing Pets in a Rental Property
While there isn't any shortage of benefits of letting pets live in a rental property, there are some cons that'll also need to be on your radar. The biggest potential con is that a pet could do damage to your Chevy Chase rental property by peeing on your floors, scratching doors and door frames, etc.
There are also other possible cons of letting pets live in a rental property that you'll need to be aware of. Here are a few of them:
- Pet owners might not always clean up after their pets outside
- Pets might leave an odor behind in your rental property long after they leave
- You may face insurance-related issues tied to allowing pets in a rental property
You'll need to make it a point to do tougher tenant screening when you allow pets in a rental property. It'll help you steer clear of letting irresponsible pet owners live in your rental.
Should You Let Pets Live in a Rental Property?
Are you interested in letting pets in a rental property? Or would you prefer not to have pets in it?
Either way, a rental property management company can make sure your tenants are playing by your rules. A property management company will be able to monitor your rentals so that you know whether or not pets live in them.
PMI Chevy Chase can provide you with a property manager to assist you in this situation. We'll also be able to lend a hand with things like property maintenance.
Contact us for all your rental property management needs.
