Your rental house might not be occupied by just humans, it might contain some furry, four legged friends! You might even have birds. Your tenant pet rights and the rights of the landlord have to be considered. According to the Humane Society, 39 percent of U.S. households own at least one dog, and 33 percent own at least one cat. Regulations regarding the rights and responsibilities of landlords and tenants vary from state to state.
Many landlords and property managers have explicit policies about pet ownership, whether in terms of allowing them at all or specifying weight, type or prohibited areas. Rental Houses, LLC. loves pets but there are certain types not allowed. This includes German Shepherds, Chows, Boxers, Pit Bulls, Akitas, Presa Canarios, Rottweilers and Doberman Pinschers. This is due to the fact that most insurance companies will not insure aggressive breed pets. Pets also have to weigh 35 pounds or under, and there is a maximum of two pets allowed per rental house. Rental Houses, LLC. has a refundable $250 pet deposit per pet.
In the event that any of the pet rules are broken, the landlord will initiate a Seven Day Notice of Non-Compliance for pet violations. Florida notes that if a landlord gives a tenant a Seven Day Notice of Non-Compliance Notice for correctable pet policy violations, the notice must give the tenant the option of correcting the condition. For example, if a landlord does not allow pets, but the tenant has one, the tenant must be given the option of moving or removing the pet from the rental house.
The agreements reached by landlords and pet-owning tenants impact neighboring tenants. If a pet becomes a nuisance to other tenants by damaging property, causing odors or making loud noises on a consistent basis, that impacts the neighbor’s ability to enjoy her home. It has been in the experience of Rental Houses, LLC. that neighbors usually don’t involve the landlord when it comes to noisy pets. Rather if it occurs late at night they call the police, or if they think the animal is being harmed they call the SPCA or Human Society. If neighbors do contact us, it would be Rental Houses, LLC.’s responsibility to issue a warning when valid.
When you rent a house and adopt a pet through the Friends of Strays or the SPCA or another adoption agency, they will call the property manager. The agencies will verify that you will be able to adopt the pet(s) per the lease agreement you currently signed, the number of pets allowed, the weight restrictions, breeds allowed, and if a pet deposit is required.
When you rent a house and have a pet(s), make sure your tenant pet rights are clearly defined in your lease and/or pet addendum. At the time of signing your lease all will be documented so there will be no misunderstandings.