Easy tips for landlords to prevent dogs from damaging rental properties.
If your tenants have dogs, you may have to brace yourself for potential property damage. Don’t worry—this doesn’t mean you’ll have to disallow dogs on your property completely and cut out potentially good tenants. There is a way to prevent damage in three easy steps:
1. Screen your tenants. Not all pet owners are irresponsible, so you don’t have to forbid pets on your property. One way to ensure that your tenants will more likely take care of your unit is to screen them properly. Check if their pets have regular check-ups and vaccinations, and if their pets are well-trained. By asking these questions, you ensure they are responsible pet owners.
2. Add clauses in your lease. Adding protective clauses in your lease will encourage tenants to take better care of your property, and prevent conflicts in the future. Examples of protective clauses are: conducting regular property inspections; consequences for irresponsible pet ownership, and clear rules on whose responsibility it is to ensure that damages on the property are repaired or replaced.
3. Conduct regular walkthroughs. By conducting regular walkthroughs in your rental units, you get to see the current state of your property and if your tenants are ensuring that the unit remains in good condition. If you see signs of damage on your property, you can then decide what to do based on what is stipulated in your lease.
Managing a rental property is not always a walk in the park, but having sufficient knowledge of property management will make things easier. But to make things even more convenient for you, you can hire a professional team of property managers instead. So, if you have any questions about rental properties or real estate investments in general, please feel free to reach out to us by calling (480)-845-0048, send a message to our Facebook page, or visit our website at www.eliteresultsrealty.com. I’d love to answer any questions!
