If you were to rent an apartment/house to someone with a dog...

[Adina P]

If you were to rent an apt/house to someone with a dog, what requirements would you have?  As far as flea control measures go, can you think of any way to enforce/check up on it?  And even if you could verify, how?  What would be the written requirement? 

Anything else?

[F, Calla & Luca]

I guess my first thoughts would be how to enforce whatever requirements I'd have. All dogs bark but how much and what to do if there's "too" much. Picking up poop would be an absolute. That one is easy to check up on and enfroce realtively speaking. The only way to check up on flea control reliably would be if the dog were to wear a flea collar or you applied spot treatment yourself. Destruction of property indoors and out would be another concern. I never though about this much but I can see why so many places prohibit rentals to dogs : (

[Julie and Charlie]

"Every year, a flea detecting Beagle will be dispatched to the property. If a flea infestation is found, renter will be responsible for eradication".

Just kidding.  I would try to find a responsible pet owner first, and then hopefully the harder stuff would follow. I would try to require current vaccinations as required by their veterinarian or maybe just a veterinarian reference? Or how about asking for recent evidence of purchase of flea treatment within a reasonable period of time with the application?

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

A vet reference is not a bad idea. You would have to tell the potential tenant to give his vet permisson to release the info. People don't always buy their flea preventatives from the vet, but a good vet reference does indicate a conscientious dog owner who would try to protect his dog from fleas. 

[Pat and Traveler]

This is from a site called "Dog Law."

Some landlords prefer to rent to pet owners, finding them a more responsible class of tenants. Some allow small dogs. And some will make an exception to their usual no dogs rule if they become convinced that they're dealing with a responsible owner - which means that an official no dogs policy isn't always the final word.

If you want to negotiate something with a property owner or manager, be realistic. It's obvious why many landlords are reluctant to rent to dog owners: dogs can cause serious damage to apartments and yards, they can be a nuisance if they bark and a menace if they bite or frighten people. Landlords are worried that the place will be damaged, other tenants or    neighbors will be disturbed, or that the dog will hurt someone. Their concerns are reasonable: they risk losing time and money and, in some instances, may even face legal liability if the dog injures someone. Deal with these concerns up front. The checklist below should give you some ideas of where to start.

Before agreeing to rent to you and your dog, a landlord has a reasonable right to expect both convincing evidence that the dog won't cause problems, and provisions in the lease or rental agreement that spell out your responsibilities.

CONVINCING A SKEPTICAL LANDLORD

• Get references from previous landlords or neighbors - brief letters saying what a nice, well-mannered pet you have.
• Show the landlord anything else that indicates the dog will be a good tenant: obedience school certificates, proof of spaying or neutering, vaccination and licensing records.
• Bring the dog along on a second visit to the new place, if the landlord agrees.
• Have the dog spayed or neutered, if you haven't already. Many problems are caused by female dogs in heat, which attract noisy and persistent suitors. And having the dog sterilized shows that you're a responsible owner.
• Offer to put down a substantial damage deposit, over and above what the landlord usually charges, to show your confidence in the dog's good behavior. (State or local law may limit the amount of the deposit; California, for example, limits security deposits to twice the amount of the monthly rent, or three times the rent for a furnished       apartment.)¹

Whatever agreement you work out, it should always be  clearly set out in writing - no exceptions. If you have a dog,  never sign a lease that contains a standard "no pets" clause, even if the owner or manager has offered oral assurances that it's all right to have the dog. If the landlord later reconsiders, or sells the property to a new owner, you could land in the          middle of a legal battle. 

You can modify a rental agreement or add a separate addendum to cover pets. Here are some clauses you can modify to fit your situation and add to a standard rental agreement or lease.

• "Tenant may have one dog, his Miniature Schnauzer named Pepper, on the premises."
• "Tenant may have one dog, which weighs less than 50 pounds, on the premises."
• "Tenant will remove dog droppings from the yard daily [or, if the yard is private, weekly]."
• "Tenant will repair, or pay for repair of, any damage done to yard or house by dog."
• "Tenant will keep the dog inside between the hours of 10 p.m. and 7 a.m."
• "Tenant will pay a $300 refundable security deposit, in addition to the standard security deposit of $500, to cover any damage that may be caused by the dog."
• "In lieu of paying an increased security deposit, tenant will pay for steam cleaning of the carpets when she moves out."
• "Tenant will keep $100,000 of liability insurance to cover injuries or  damage caused by the dog."  This clause is necessary only if there's some reason to fear the dog might injure someone. 

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

We are in the process of renting my mom's house right now.  Over all we don't want pets but if it is a service dog or we see  CGC certification we would obviously change our minds.   We  feel that if the dog has one of those certifications, the owner would take good care of it.Vet reference is a great idea.  I would need to meet the prospective renter and the dog.  We have the right to visit in our contract - Mom has a storage unit attached to the garage and  we have a pest control contract where we need allow the company access to the attic which the renters do not have. We also have a gardener that we asked to report to us if there is a yard problem - which would include dog damage.  I am going to save Pat's info in case we allow a tenet with a dog.

[Laurie, Wally & Charlotte]

The owners of the home that we rent in Florida for the winter months had their groundskeeper "interview" Wally before agreeing to allow us to rent.  Interestingly, it was not originally listed as a pet-friendly home, but my husband convinced them that Wally would be a respectful tenant and easier on their house than most children would be. We had to sign a contract that included language about Wally being a certified therapy dog.  When we asked about bringing in a second dog (Charlotte), they added terminology in the paperwork that stipulated that Charlotte would be trained in the same manner as Wally.  We use their housekeeper for bi-monthly cleaning, and I am sure that she reports back to the owners.  We also pay a hefty security deposit.  I hope this helps.

[BG and Gavin]

Yes, I was thinking security deposit too - in case of damage or extermination or whatever upon departure.

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

We rented to pet owners.

An additional security deposit was included. Enough deposit that would cover the costs of a professional exterminator, if needed, to come in and clean the home.  So, figure out the costs and add that into the agreement.

We did not say, " This deposit covers the flea and poo messes"  That would just give them a excuse 

It was just the consideration on our part that in case there was a problem our costs were covered.

Fleas are relatively easy to exterminate especially once all the renter's furniture moves out with them. The law ( at least in our state) requires you clean the carpet each time anyway.  We did have a problem with one tenant and Pergo Floors were the answer to our rental property.  Once that carpet was destroyed the entire house was covered with cleanable flooring.

So, just add the costs into 'what if'.... and it should be fine. 

[Judy, Meg & Polly Wolly Doodle]

Years ago we lived in So Cal, the people that owned our apartment building owned several others and they kept up on them.  One of the things they did was come in MONTHLY to spray for bugs so they would not develop any infestations, it gave them an opportunity to check every room out (cleaver people) and there was the occasional renter who was told to keep things nicer or get out.  I am sure it was all in the rental agreement but I hesitate to tell you how many years ago that was...

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

I would definitely require an interview (dogs included) and would require a significant security deposit (enough to cover damage that might occur because of the dog).

[Allyson, Peri & Taquito]

DItto - my parents rented out their condo to a couple that had a dog - a mixed breed that actually looked similar to a doodle. they did an extensive interview (and met dog), then required an extra deposit of two months rent (refundable at end of lease if no damage) - that was about $2500.

[Sally S Miles]

Would you add a clause about teenagers? Or pre-schoolers? Those guys can do a lot of damage to a home.    My tenant all in all 6k damage from a teen........  I'll take dogs.

Please don't discriminate against pet owners - this breaks my heart so responses from those who won't - - why do you think so many are dumped?   Why make a family choose

By all means interview - request references - add clauses and please don't ask for insane deposits.   Take part of the deposit for pest control and cleaning, mandatory - - but please don't use the word 'if