Many landlords are concerned about allowing pets to reside in a rental house. However, when you understand why Duluth landlords should have a pet screening procedure in place you can be certain that you are making a good decision.
Assistance/Service Animals
At Real Property Management Executives of Greater Atlanta, we guarantee that the properties that we manage are equal opportunity housing, and we accommodate an array of possible customers. But many landlords do not understand that just like there are various kinds of residents, there are also many different creatures that are permitted on the property by legislation.
Under the Fair Housing Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act, support and service animals are allowed on any property if they’re enrolled as a service animal for a handicap, which is defined from the FHA as “a physical or mental impairment which significantly limits a person’s major life activities”.
Thus, even in the event that you’ve told residents, they’re not allowed to possess pets in your house, you’re still required to provide “reasonable accommodation” to residents with assistance animals. Service animals administered from the ADA are lawfully permitted anywhere and are described as a puppy or mini horse that’s been trained to perform work to execute tasks for the sake of someone with a handicap.
This is a significant distinction to create as you don’t wish to wind up trapped in a legal issue by turning a resident as well as their help or support animal by confusing it with a pet. But by using a screening procedure in place you’ll be able to ascertain if it’s a help animal by requesting documentation from a physician or therapist who admits that the residents’ creature is an assistance animal.
Contact Past Landlords
Among the very best screening tips if allowing pets on your rental property would be to contact previous landlords for references on the pet. This will give you a better understanding of whether the animal ever caused harm to the property, disturbed the peace of neighbors, or caused some other problems.
This is a fast and effortless way to help steer you on your choice, without turning a potential resident away. Don’t be scared to lease to a resident using a moderate or large-sized dog due to unfounded fears. The big bully in your thoughts could truly be a big teddy bear that does more to create your residents and neighbors happy than annoyed
Include Pet Riders in Lease Agreement
Another vital step to your pet screening procedure is including a pet rider in your rental agreement. This ensures that the animal’s existence on the property is both known, also accounted for in terms of property damage. Some landlords will incorporate a pet addendum if their current residents want to obtain a pet after they have transferred in, but it’s ideal to have a pet rider in the original document.
Some basic components the pet rider should include are:
- Pet details: breed, color, gender, age, and weight
- Pet fee: if it is not an assistance animal you are able to charge a fee for a resident to own a pet on your property
- Damage deposit: this deposit will be returned if the pet does not incur any damages during its stay
- Vaccination list: have resident include type of vaccination and date
Possessing a legally binding document makes sure that no additional pets can be added without your consent, and that the pet living on the house is fit to be around other animals and residents of the area. This lawful rider will make sure that if any curve-balls are thrown away, it is the responsibility of the owner to ensure that the issues are handled properly.
Take Photos of Pet
Another significant step in your pet screening procedure is to take photographs of their pet. Imagine the surprise you’d have when creating use of a house to do maintenance just to find that the little Chihuahua your resident signed to get is really a Great Dane.
By taking a photograph, and documenting details like the kind of creature, its overall dimensions, and markings, as well as any other significant info regarding the pet, can make sure that one pet does not become three, and a little dog does not wind up becoming a much bigger problem.
Do More Business
Finally, having a pet screening policy makes it possible to do more business. As you might initially shy away from letting non-assistance creatures in your property many potential residents search for single-family-homes to rent over flats based on having a pet. You can even make additional money if you decide to charge pet rent that the gardener has to pay every month.
Additionally, pet owners are frequently more responsible than the average resident. If they’ve taken the opportunity to train their pet, find appropriate care for their pet when they are gone and are not willing to leave their pet because of rental charges, then this may be the type of resident you want on your property. While this is not accurate for all pet owners, it’s something to think about when screening both residents and animals.
When you rely on Real Property Management Executives Greater Atlanta for your property management services, we do more than just respond to repair calls. We assist landlords and investment homeowners alike to put responsible, compatible residents in your rental property and to ensure that all possible liabilities such as pets are properly screened so that the rental experience is a good one for both you and your residents. Start realizing the benefits of having a pet screening process and contact us online or call us at 678-765-8383 to learn more about our services.
We are pledged to the letter and spirit of U.S. policy for the achievement of equal housing opportunity throughout the Nation. See Equal Housing Opportunity Statement for more information.
