Insights on Pet Ownership with Renters 2024

[Cecilia Hagan]

I wanted to share some interesting data from a recent article in the Residential Resource, the monthly newsletter of the National Association of Residential Property Managers, Pros and Cons of Allowing Pets in Rental Properties, (Ferreira, 2024). It looks like Texas is leading the way in pet-friendliness, which is something to consider if you're a self-managing landlord. Not allowing pets could impact the marketability of your rental, especially in cities like Dallas.

According to the article:

"Data from Zillow reveals that twice as many renters filter for pet-friendly listings compared to any other amenity in the country’s 25 largest rental markets. The top three pet-friendly cities are all located in Texas, with Dallas leading the pack at 79% pet-friendly rental listings, followed closely by Austin and San Antonio. Interestingly, the most popular dog breed across all three cities is the Labrador retriever. Nationally, 59% of renters report having at least one pet, and 40% have a dog."

I know that pet damage is a big concern for many self-managing landlords. It can be scary! Hopefully this information can help you make an informed decision when deciding whether to allow pets or not. 

For self-managing landlords, what are some of your favorite practices and policies to mitgate your fears and and potential losses around pets?

[Nathan Gesner]

Quote from @Cecilia Hagan:

Good renters tend to be good pet owners. With over 100 pet-friendly rentals, I rarely have a pet problem that creates a financial loss.

[Cecilia Hagan]

Agreed! I think it's easy for those of use who manage dozens or hundreds of rentals to be comfortable with pets because we see that it's a net positive. For a self-managing landlord within only 1 or 2 rentals, it can be pretty intimidating to think about the cons of allowing pets. I hope this information can demonstrate why it's still important to consider.