Why Pet Screening is Always a Good Idea

Why is Pet Screening Important?

Pet screening is important because it helps landlords and property managers decide which pets to allow in their rental properties. Allowing only well-behaved animals into rental properties helps to protect the property from damage and noise complaints. 

A pet screening can also help landlords avoid potential liability issues associated with renting to pet owners with aggressive or uncontrolled pets. Furthermore, landlords can maintain good relationships with neighbours.

How to Do a Pet Screening

Pet screening is a comprehensive process. You need to take a few steps to screen an applicant’s pet properly. These steps include requiring a pet screening application, conducting a pet interview, verifying veterinary references, and reviewing the animals rental history (if available). Consider the following:

Pet Application

The first step in the screening is to require a pet owners to conduct a pet screening application for their dogs, cats and any other pet. This should include questions about the animal's age, breed, weight, and whether it’s spayed or neutered. Requiring a tenant's pet application helps you gather important information about the pet that can be used to make a decision about whether or not it is a good fit for the rental property.

Pet Interview 

The second step is to conduct a pet interview. This gives the landlord an opportunity to meet the animal and observe the pet's behavior in real time. You should pay attention to whether the pet seems friendly and well-behaved.

You should also ask the owner about the animal's care and feeding habits. The goal of the pet interview is to help you determine if there would be any risks associated with allowing the pet at the rent unit.

Veterinary References

The third step is to verify veterinary references. You should contact the pet's current veterinarian to ask about the animal's health and vaccination history. You should also inquire about any previous incidents of aggression or biting. These references ensure that no health issues could pose a problem in the future. To verify veterinary references, you can contact the animal's previous veterinarian and ask for a reference letter.

Pet Rental History

The fourth step is to check the pet's rental history, if available. You can request references from previous landlords or property managers about the animal. The references could include valuable information such as wether a dog chews on the property or a cat scratches walls. These references can provide valuable insight into the animal's behaviour in a rental setting.

What are the Benefits of Pet Screenings?

Pet screenings offers a lot of benefits for landlords. With a simple process, you can offer a pet-friendly property and get an edge in the market. Further, you can also make sure that your prospective tenants pets aren’t responsible for creating a nuisance. Here are a few other benefits: 

Reduces Chances of Aggressive Behaviour 

Pet screening can help to reduce the chances of liability. If you allow a problem pet into your rental property, you could be held liable if the pet's behavior causes injuries to another person. By screening pets ahead of time, landlords can identify potential liabilities and make sure that only well-behaved animals are allowed into their rentals.

Reduces Property Damage 

The pet screening can help to reduce the chances of property damage. Animals can cause a lot of wear and tear on a rental property. But if the pet has a calm demeanour and is well-trained the risk of damages decreases. 

Reduces Complaints from Neighbours 

If you allow a noisy or disruptive animal into their rental property, neighbours will begin to complain. This can lead to tension between you and your tenants. Further, it will lead to bad publicity for the rental property. By implementing pet policies, you can ensure a peaceful rental experience for everyone involved.

Bottom Line

The popularity of pets is growing every day. With it, people are looking for rental properties that can be a home to their pets too. Pet-friendly rental properties provide an additional source of income, as many landlords charge pet rent aswell as pet deposit or pet fees. 

When searching for tenants, you should ensure that you are taking all the necessary steps to screen their pets. Pet screening helps identify any potential risks that the pet poses. It gives you an overall picture of the pet’s history, including vaccination records, behaviour, and any past incidents and should disclose certain dog breeds. These simple steps can make your property way more attractive and safe to prospective and existing tenants with an animal. 

If you would like help managing your rental properties, turn to the experts at Peak Residential. Contact us today to learn about our pet screening services!