As important as the tenant screening process is to ensure that you rent to responsible tenants, the pet screening process also helps you assess the pet's suitability for your rental property. Learning how to do so can prevent landlord headaches like noise complaints, property damage, and tenant injuries.
The Screening Process for a Tenant's Pet
Rental Unit Suitability
Even pet-friendly properties have limitations on what kind of animals are allowed on the premises. The potential tenant wouldn't have to go through the pet screening application if their pets aren't eligible in the first place. You’re within your rights to create pet policies concerning breed restrictions and other pet-related limitations.
Screening Application
In this step of the pet screening process, pet owners are asked to provide information regarding their pet's behavior, health, and history. This can help landlords determine whether they are prone to excessive barking, have behavioral or medical issues, and conduct other crucial background checks, such as checking vaccination records. You may hire a property manager or use an online pet screening service to be more efficient.
Pet Owner Interview
A pet interview lets you see and assess the prospective tenant's pet in person and ascertain responsible pet ownership. Even if the pet has been housetrained, you still need to learn how the owner would respond to an unruly pet. When behavioral issues arise, the owner should know when and how to respond.
Pet Screening Checklist:
- What type of pet do they have?
- What is the pet's breed?
- How long have they owned their pet?
- Has their pet been housebroken or housetrained?
- Can their pet spend their time alone?
- Have their pets gotten the necessary vaccinations? (Core vaccines vary with pet types.)
- Do they have a history of behavioral issues?
- Can they provide references from previous landlords regarding pet behavior?
- Who looks after the pets when they're away?
- Are they willing to pay pet rent, pet security deposit, or other pet-related fees?
How Does Pet Screening Work for Service Animals?
Service animals or emotional support animals (ESAs) are not considered pets, which means that property owners often have to accept them in accordance with the law. Federal fair housing laws state that landlords in California must provide "reasonable accommodation."
With the federal Fair Housing Act, you must adjust your pet rules, procedures, or services to provide a potential tenant with disability equal opportunity. You may still conduct the pet screening process, although its purpose is to learn about the animal.
Service Animals vs. Emotional Support Animals
Service animals are exempt from pet deposits, pet rent, and other pet fees that may apply to bringing an animal to your housing. Since an assistance animal is not considered a pet, pet policies do not apply to them, and a reasonable accommodation request is not needed.
An emotional support animal has the same protection against policies when it comes to allowing pets. However, landlords can request an ESA letter from a qualified mental health professional. When proven to be an assistance animal, reasonable accommodations must be provided.
When a Landlord Can Deny Service Animals
Although there are protections in place for assistance animals, you can still deny a prospective tenant on specific grounds. You can deny renters when the pet:
- Creates an undue financial and administrative burden
- Creates a fundamental alteration of the landlord's business
- Constitutes a direct threat to the health and safety of others
- Causes substantial physical damage to the property of others
Why You Should Conduct Pet Screening
- Rental property protection: Just because your rental is pet-friendly, doesn't mean you should allow pets to destroy your property or accelerate wear and tear.
- Tenant well-being: If you have a multi-family rental property, pet screening is crucial to ensure that the pet will not cause stress, disturbances, or injure other tenants.
- Better pet ownership: The pet screening application can encourage pet parents to train their furry friends well, which leads to more responsible pet owners.
- Getting to know the potential tenant: The way the applicant treats their pet can say a lot about what kind of tenant they are. If the tenant's dog appears neglected, then it might reflect how they would treat the landlord's property.
Pet Screening FAQs
Can I limit what type of pets I can allow on my property?
- Yes. For instance, your tenants might not feel safe with certain breeds of dogs.
What type of animals should I allow on my rental property?
- Most pet owners usually bring on dogs and cats, but you may allow other animals too if they are domesticated.
Can I delegate the pet screening process?
- You may hire a property manager to conduct the process or use a third-party service to streamline the procedure.
How many pets should I allow?
- Allowing at least one pet is the standard protocol for pet-friendly rentals, but you can allow as many as you want as long as it doesn't disrupt other tenants or cause undue burdens to you.
How much should I charge for pet deposits in California?
- Just like security deposits, California landlords can charge up to a month's rent. However, this doesn't have the same coverage as a tenant's security deposit and can only be used for pet damages or pest problems.
Why Professional Property Management is Beneficial for Pet-Friendly Rentals
Allowing pets in your rental property widens your target market, which highly reduces your potential vacancy rate. However, it does add a few steps to the rental process, as well as provisions in the rental agreement.
Blue Line Property Management helps ensure that all crucial questions are asked in pet screening and that the pet policies you establish for your rental property are enforced. We aim for your business to thrive and be the preferred rental for pet owners.
Getting the management expertise you and your investment property deserve is as simple as making a call. Contact us now, and we can discuss ways to improve your operations.
