Considerations for house hacking with pets

[Kevin Duong]

I'm currently house hacking with a mid term rental strategy and considering renting out two rooms in my property to a single tenant. The property is a 3 bedroom, 2.5 bathroom townhouse. My girlfriend and I occupy one of the bedrooms in the home. 

We're contemplating allowing pets, as there will be no other roommates besides us and we don't have any allergies.

Questions:

- Considerations for Allowing Pets: What factors should I take into account when renting to tenants with pets?

- Commonly Allowed Pets: Which types of pets do landlords typically permit in rental properties?

- Pet Policies and Agreements: What are the best practices for creating pet policies and agreements to protect my property?

- Insurance Implications: How might allowing pets affect my homeowner's insurance, and what steps should I take to ensure proper coverage?

- Legal and Regulatory Concerns: Are there any local laws or regulations in Fredericksburg, Virginia, that I should be aware of regarding pets in rental properties?

- Tenant Screening for Pet Owners: What criteria should I use when screening potential tenants who have pets?

I appreciate any insights or experiences fellow investors can share on managing rentals with pet-friendly policies.