Tennants Have a Dog W/O permission in a NO PET Rental property :-/

[Jonathan L Berhow-Rivera]

Hello BP Friends,

I have a situation at one of our rental properties (A No Pet Marketed Home).

So, after the irrigation company canceled on me, I decided to go and setup the system myself. No big deal right... I let Renters Warehouse (property managing company) know that a person would be over at time and date convenient to the tenants. They chose last Saturday morning. They did not know the owner was coming over to do the work.

Saturday, I got my tools together and headed over. I knocked on the door and I hear barking and the door is opened by the tenant’s little girl smiling and a husky puppy in a very small kennel barking away. The entryway floor and all the floor I could see was full of hair. I said to the tenant "should I take off my shoes?" He said "don’t worry about it, you can see the dog makes a mess anyways". I was quiet, smiled and said "I think the water valve is in the basement, can you show me the way?" I proceeded to the basement and then out to the garage and to the yard to take care of the irrigation.

While I was there, I noticed that the water softener bags that I had bought the tenant as well as the new air filters for the 18-month lease were still on the floor next to the respective units. I filled the water softener salt and changed the air filter before I finished. There was an O ring for the RPZ Back flow that was damaged and leaking so I let the tenant know that I would order and be back to install this week. I reached out to renters warehouse and they said the lease modification person was out until tomorrow.

I really try to not get involved with the tenants but at this point I’m not sure how to react.  I didn’t want pets in this home. I was wondering if anybody has dealt with this and what was your response?

Thanks,

Jonathan Berhow-Rivera

[Melanie Thomas]

Hi there! Your lease should state exactly what happens when an unauthorized pet is discovered. In our lease we charge an administrative fee equal to one months rent and $50 per day the pet is still in the home. Good luck & happy investing!