Inherited tenant violating pet policy

[Ross Bernard]

I purchased a house with an existing 3 yr tenant. The lease states no pets allowed but it sounds like the owner allowed her two pit bulls. My insurance policy won't cover vicious breeds. The tenant keeps up the place well considering she has 6 kids. Section 8 pays 100% rent.

I've met the dogs and they weren't aggressive toward me coming in their house. Would you ignore the dog situation or demand they be removed? 

[Jim Shepard]

Ross, I don't know about North Carolina but in Illinois you are screwed.  Since the previous landlord allowed her to get pets it would overwrite the lease agreement.  If she is month to month or if the lease is about up, you could tell her to either get rid of the pit bulls or consider this your 30 day notice. 

More than likely your insurance company isn't going to like the pit bulls there.  They would probably pay the liability the first time but not a second time should an accident occur. 

I learned a lesson the hard way with an inherited tenant.  I ended up having to pay the water and trash bill for almost a year even though it was stated in the lease that they paid these utilities.  The previous owner had set a precedent and they no longer had to pay those bills.  The way around it is to have the inherited tenant sign an estoppel letter stating that there weren't any side deals.