To Pet or Not to Pet

[Dale Desmond]

A lot of rental owners ask "Should I allow my tenants to have a pet?" This is followed by one of two additions...

1. "Dogs destroy properties. Cats are ok, though."
2. "Cats destroy properties. Dogs are ok, though."

In my experience here in Utah, it's not the pet that destroys the property. It's the tenant that allows it. A bad pet is usually an extension of a bad tenant.

So the answer...screen the tenant well (and legally) and the pet will be well screened. Certainly, there will be exceptions. It's not a guarantee. But I've seen this time & again. You'll be able to add increased rent & pet deposit so as long as you follow local fair-housing laws, you can enjoy the increased revenue. 

[William Hochstedler]

I very much agree.  I would add, that in all my years of PM, we never had a tenant try to waive the pet rent or deposit for a comfort animal in a pet friendly rental.  But we have had to accommodate lots of them in units that don't allow pets.

So if there's a chance you might have an animal in there anyway, you might as well have some say in it and get compensated.