Should I allow pet in unit

[Ben M.]

Someone with a pet is interested in renting one of the units in my duplex in Texas City, TX. Is this a big issue or how could we make this work?

A pet deposit maybe, higher rent?

[Nathan Gesner]

I agree with @Greg Scott, to a degree. 

Pets present a risk, just like tenants, kids, unmarried couples, or any other possible demographic. You should think through the potential dangers and then develop policies to mitigate that risk. If you have hardwood floors, you may be concerned about dog nails scratching it. If you have carpet, you have to worry about odors or the dog digging it up. Mini-blinds can be torn down, doors can be scratched, trim can be chewed up, and lawns can be dug up so bad they look like a WWII battlefield. How do you protect yourself from these risks?

• limit the number, size, or breed of animal
• screen the animal by viewing it in person, speaking with a previous Landlord, or using a service like petscreening (highly recommended!)
• even a screened animal poses risk, so protect yourself by charging a higher deposit or (my preference) an increase to the monthly rent. Remember: deposits are refundable; fees or increased rent are yours to keep
• establish rules about noise, cleaning up after the animal, insurance (if required), repairing damages, etc.
• be prepared for your tenant to violate the rules! Don't wait for a problem to present itself before you develop procedures for dealing with it. Look at problems other Landlords are talking about and figure out how you will handle them. Put it in writing so you'll be prepared for the inevitable.

We require all animals be screened, we limit households to two animals, each rental is different and may have different restrictions, we charge a minimum of $25 per month, per animal, and it goes as high as $100 per month. We also have an up-front fee of $300 for higher risk animals. Some rentals allow anything, some take dogs but not cats, some have size restrictions, etc. 

The key points: figure out how to mitigate risk and how to monetize this. I have far more damage caused by humans than from animals, good renters are usually good pet owners, and people are willing to pay more and stay longer when they find a rental that accepts their animals.