Baltimore City landlords allowing pets?

[Susan C.]

I have not allowed pets in the past and am wondering if that is a mistake.  does this increase my liability to a suit if dog bites someone?  how much additional rent are you receiving when allowing pets?  weight restrictions? excluding pit bulls?

thank you for your thoughts!

[Ned Carey]

@Susan C. one national speaker said he would would not rent to pets if it was a new carpet. However when that tenant moved out he would allow pets. He figured by the end of that 2nd tenancy he would need to replace carpets anyway.

Two main advantages for allowing pets; potentially higher rents, and tenants are likely to stay longer. If your area does not have a lot of landlords that allow pets, they won't have anywhere to go and will stay in your unit. 

Regarding damage and pee smell, that can be dealt with at inspections. You should inspect your units regularly anyway. Your lease could be written in such a way that you have the right to force the remove of the pet for sanitary reasons or property damage. If they don't cooperate then evict. 

That said I think we only have 1 tenant with a pet and we inherited her from the previous landlord.  Generally we say no pets allowed.