Bucks for Barks By Robby Nisenfeld, Communications Manager
Arizona Humane Society
bites in communities or enhance public safety. Many breeds are also
Should I open up my rental property to individuals with pets?
often mistakenly identified. It’s best for landlords to instead consider
It’s a question many landlords debate, but one with an easy answer.
a specific dog’s behavior, not its size or breed when evaluating rental
If you want to maximize your profit, you’ll make more money offering
applicants.
pet-friendly housing.
Reducing risk
According to Best Friends Animal Society, citing a 2011 analysis in the
There are clear advantages to providing pet-friendly housing. Consider
Journal of Real Estate Finance and Economics, pet-friendly landlords
the following to reduce your risk and help ensure you are finding a
who place no restrictions on pet ownership currently enjoy an 11.6%
reliable pet renter.
rental premium over landlords who do not allow pets (after controlling
• Require pets to be spayed/neutered and up-to-date on vaccinations;
for waterfront rentals, vacancies, age, number of bedrooms and other factors).
• Require a refundable pet deposit to encourage renters to keep your property in good shape;
Residents with pets were found to stay significantly longer in their rentals — by an average of 23 to 46 months — than residents without
• Require pet renter’s insurance;
pets. Additionally, vacancy rates and the amount of money landlords
• Ask a few of these questions during the interview process.
spend on marketing were lower for pet-friendly housing, and pet-friendly housing units received twice as many applications.
Do you already offer pet-friendly housing?
Worried about damage? According to a 2019 study by the Michelson
If you’re a pet-friendly landlord who has residents who have been
Animal Foundation, only 9% of pets cause damage, and owners of
impacted by COVID-19, several of the Valley’s leading animal welfare
both pet- and non-pet friendly housing believe adults and children are
organizations have teamed up to create pethousinghelpaz.org, which
likely to create more costly damage than dogs or cats.
offers information and resources to pet owners who are struggling and need help.
So, I should rent to pet owners, but should I restrict certain breeds? Many experts agree that breed-specific legislation or similar policies that restrict dog breeds based on appearance, do not reduce dog
Apartment News | March/April 2021
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azmultihousing.org
