Also specify whether you will allow guests to bring their pets with them while visiting tenants. You don't want your tenants caring for other people's pets in their rental unit. In your pet agreement, make it clear that you allow only tenants' pets. For example, a landlord might only allow dogs under 20 pounds. Instead of, or in addition to, banning certain breeds, some landlords limit the weight of dogs. Some companies won't issue liability policies if certain so-called 'dangerous breeds' are kept on the property.Ĭlick here to learn more about the landlord's liability for tenants' dogs. (Fair housing laws apply to human beings, not to dogs.) Before you allow such breeds, check with your insurer. Although the question of whether certain breeds are truly dangerous is a topic of controversy, landlords are legally entitled to ban these breeds from rental property. Some landlords ban certain dog breeds that many people believe have a propensity toward violence, such as pit bulls and Rottweilers. The agreement should also specify any limit to the number of pets allowed. Some landlords allow only common domesticated animals such as dogs, cats, birds, fish, guinea pigs, rabbits, hamsters, gerbils, and small reptiles. Your pet agreement should specify which types of pets are allowed. Policy 1: Identify the Types of Pets Allowed

Here are some common provisions to consider including in your pet agreement. That way, if a tenant gets a pet later, she already knows what the rules are and what is expected if she wants to stay in their apartment. Require that all tenants sign the pet agreement, even non-pet owners. (Your lease should refer to the pet rules and incorporate them as part of your lease.) This provides notice to tenants that their continued tenancy depends on honoring these rules. You can reduce the additional risks created by having pets on your property by creating smart pet policies, putting them into a 'pet agreement,' and including the agreement as part of your lease. Here's how you can reduce the risks associated with pet-friendly rentals. However, allowing pets on your property can pose risks, from additional property damage to pet-induced injuries. They do so because they love pets, or see benefits to their property - like a broader pool of tenants, or reduced tenant turnover (because pet owners have fewer options). Many landlords allow tenants to keep pets in their rentals.

Apartment pet weight limit