Property is Carpeted - Is not Allowing Pets Still Possible?

Question

Hi friends,

I have a vacant, well-maintained carpeted property that I am marketing.Since 70% of tenants are pet owners, I feel that I am missing out on a large market.

However, I also don't want the hassle to completely replace my carpet after a tenant with pets moves out. But I am open to it if I can use the security deposit to replace the carpet (not sure to what extent it is legal).

I was thinking of getting landlord rental protection from Zillow to cover pet costs but my premium will probably shoot up since the place is carpeted.

Would love your thoughts on this dilemma!

Here is the link to the property: https://www.zillow.com/b/3015-...

Thank you!

Adam Laurenzo · Answer

Sounds like you have your answer on pets. Just want to throw my opinion in on your carpet. When it comes time to replace it, don't replace it with more carpet.

Eliott Elias · Answer

Replace the carpet with LVP. Charge a non refundable pet deposit and pet rent.

Charles Carillo · Answer

@Isla Arshad

You could charge a non-refundable pet fee upfront and then charge an additional monthly fee. If you charge $250 and $25 per month; that is now just over $500 for additional wear and tear. Maybe add into your lease that the carpet needs to be steam cleaned when they move out (they need to provide a receipt for the rental of the machine or from the cleaning service).

I always avoid protection plans and warranties. When a tenant moves out, I want to fix the unit ASAP and rent it again; not wait for a 3rd party to review it and then tell me what they will and will not cover. The same goes for when something breaks. I don't expect a tenant to wait weeks for appliances to be repaired or replaced.

Nathan Gesner · Answer

An example would be $300 non-refundable fee up front and $50 per month. That's an extra $900 that you keep. If the carpet is damaged beyond ordinary wear-and-tear, then you deduct from the deposit and charge anything remaining. You do not use the $900 in fees you collected. The longer the tenant stays, the more you collect.

I manage 400 rentals and I have only had one animal damage a home more than the deposit would cover. It was a tenant with a couple unauthorized cats that sprayed everywhere and we spent $9,000 on cleaning, flooring, and paint.

Little kids or bad adults are more likely to cause problems. Good renters are good pet owners. They will pay more and stay longer.

Do yourself a favor: buy "Every Landlord's Legal Guide" by NOLO. Written by attorney investors, it's full of practical advice pertaining to management of investment property, has sample forms that can be edited, and - most importantly - they tell you what your primary state laws are and where you can read them. It's updated every year and is the best $40 you'll spend as a Landlord. There is one book for 49 states and a separate book for California.

Coty B Lunn · Answer

It's great that you're considering your options for attracting a broader range of tenants! I’d recommend checking your local and state laws regarding upfront non-refundable deposits, as these can vary significantly. For instance, in New York State, it's not permitted to collect last month's rent, additional security deposits beyond one month's rent, or pet deposits.

Regarding the carpet issue, even tenants without pets can sometimes leave carpets in less-than-ideal condition after a couple of years. If you're concerned about potential damage, installing laminate flooring could be a smart move. Pergo is known for its durability and ease of installation, which could give you a clean finish and reduce maintenance costs in the long run.

It's wise to consider all these factors as you make your decisions. Good luck!

Micky Weiss · Answer

I think that you should replace the carpets with LVP flooring as someone mentioned before me and this is why: I had a rental property with brand new carpets all over (bought the house with it). I had tenants moving in with no pets and the lease agreement stated no pets as well. after a year or so I accidently found out that my tenants brought 2!!! puppies despite the agreement. When I asked them about it they admitted they have a pet and paid the penalty, BUT, when they moved out ALL the carpets were urinated all over the house. My agent refused to take her shoes off because of the smell. I stripped all the carpets and they were all stained. I replaced them with LVP. The penalty plus the security deposit (and additional repairs) was far from covering my expenses, but one thing I can tell you- this is a peace of mind having non carpet flooring.

And since as a landlord with less than 100 homes you are limited to only filing a small claim on the damages and you can not report this kind of tenants to the Credit Bureau, it's worth the price.

Amy D. · Answer

I think it really depends on the pet and its owner. Two of my tenants have pet but they both keep the property very clean. I have no complaints. I screen the pet to see if it’s well trained.

Bill Ward · Answer

When I first started I had new carpet in the house. So as a 'reward' for tenants being good, I paid to have professionals go steam clean the carpet twice a year. One time after a move out it had pretty bad dog smell. Steam cleaning myself (many times) I  was able it to get it back to usable condition and it lasted for one more tenant. It's been 5 years of tenants and it's time to replace. Going to LVP next.

Isla Arshad · Answer

@Nathan Gesner, thank you again. I have posted my property without pets at the moment. If and when I switch to allowing pets, how would you suggest going about that?In other words, people who may have been potential tenants with pets would have passed on the property as a not 'good fit.'

Would you say that turning the current post off and creating a brand new post (with changed pictures + putting some sort of 'pets welcomed' tag) would help?

Or just editing the current post would be good enough?

Thank you!

Property is Carpeted - Is not Allowing Pets Still Possible?

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