Tell me how you feel about allowing pets?

[Stephen S.]

I love animals.  Well;  unless they are trying to hurt me - then I don't like them.  But in general;  I have had, and enjoyed having, pets.  But now I do not have pets.  I don't like the smell of them, I don't like cleaning up after them, and I don't like having them as a dependent.

I have dealt with truly hideous things as a result of tenants having pets.  And as a result of both things - I don't like the idea of animals living in any property that I own.

What do you all think?  And do?

Do you consider tenants-with-pets a necessary-evil of the business?  Do you forbid all pets?  Or for that matter . . . .  do you Prefer tenants with pets? <g>

stephen

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[Albert Hasson]

very interesting post.  Just did a quick google search and found 37-47% of Americans own a dog and 30-37% own a cat.  I have always allowed pets with a non refundable deposit.  Yes, I have had to replace carpet due to pet damage.  Never have had to replace doors, moulding, cabinets, appliances, etc. due to pet damage. The vast majority of the time  when a tenant with a pet vacates I cannot tell that a pet had lived there.  I have a clause in my leases that all carpets must be professionally cleaned upon move out and that pet owners must have house professionally treated for pests.  The percentage of Americans that own pets is striking.  I can't help but think that landlords that don't allow pets are really limiting their pool of renters and that an extra month or two of vacancy would do far more harm to their bottom line than potential pet damage.