Before contacting a renter about an unlawful pet, make sure you have pet regulations in place.
Before approaching a renter about an unlawful pet, make sure you have pet regulations in place. The baseboards have claw marks on them. Carpets are smelling bad. Curtains with frayed edges Illegal pet flaps cause damage to doors Signs that the tenant who just moved out had a pet – potentially an unlawful one. According to PetFinder.com, landlords that restrict pets believe that 7% of their renters maintain pets regardless, yet data from tenants revealed that 20% of tenants polled kept dogs illegally. Ouch! For landlords and property managers, that’s a lot of cat scratching in terms of time, money, and insurance. What should you do if you discover renters in your rental apartment with an unlicensed pet?
Refer to the pet section of your lease agreement.
That’s your first line of defence if you have a no-pet policy. Is there anything in your lease agreement that says you can’t have dogs, even temporarily? Is it stated that if a renter is discovered with an unlawful pet, a fee would be imposed? Is it stated that the renter will be evicted? Make sure the policy is defined properly in the wording.
Before moving in, your tenant should have read and understood the lease agreement’s pet policies. Before contacting your renter with a lease in hand, you should know your objectives: Do you want the pet to be removed by the tenant? Do you want your renter to vacate the premises? Perhaps you’d want to update your pet policy.
If you accept pets, certain species of pets may be prohibited under your agreement. Many pet rules, for example, demand a renter to provide you with the animal’s breed, weight, and name, as well as records of current immunizations. Failure to do so may result in a renter breaking your lease agreement.
Remember that many individuals consider their dogs to be their children, or “fur babies.” You could even have a thing for dogs, cats, or bearded dragons. Taking a person’s pet away can be difficult. Be empathetic, but keep to your lease conditions and the legal processes you’ve established in order to achieve your desired outcome.
Tenants must be trustworthy.
Maintaining a safe, clean, and habitable property is vital to you (and a legal requirement). Quarterly maintenance inspections are one method to accomplish this while also keeping a watch out for prohibited pets. Let potential renters know that you or another employee (with proper identification) will be stopping by to check smoke alarms and carbon dioxide detectors, replace furnace filters, and inspect dryer lint traps, among other things. If prospective renters know you’ll be dropping by for a visit, they’ll be less inclined to maintain an unlawful pet.
If you come across an unlicensed pet,
If you discover that a renter has a pet and that it is plainly a lease breach, there are many things to take.
- Obtain photographic proof
Keep in mind that taking photographs in your tenant’s apartment is illegal. You must have fair cause, such as damage that you discovered during one of your maintenance checks and will need to fix. You may also require a replacement. Because you’ll need to fix the damage, you can lawfully snap photographs of it.
- Give your renter written notification of the lease breach.
Inform them of your timetable and objectives for their actions. Do you want them to remove the pet or have a renter pack their belongings and leave? Do you wish to change the conditions of your lease?
- Inform renters of any fines they may have incurred.
Remind them that if they break the lease, they are liable for any damages caused by the unlawful pet.
- Give a clear and forceful notice.
If they choose to reject your direction, your letter should also specify the repercussions of their behaviour, such as that you will proceed with an eviction and they will be charged attorney and court fees.