To drive successful long-term rentals, you might find yourself re-evaluating the pet policy for your residential properties. This is because, as of 2024, 66% of US households own a pet, so being pet-friendly can significantly enhance your tenant appeal. However, much like disruptive tenants, not every pet is suitable for your property.
That's where pet screening comes in: It's a way to get to know your tenant's animals without risking potential neighbor complaints or property damage. Pet screenings can help you quickly attract the right tenant while maintaining peace of mind.
In this article, we'll walk you through everything you need to know as a landlord or property manager about pet screenings. We'll cover what they are, the benefits, and how to manage an effective screening process. We also explore exceptions to the rule, helping you create a better experience for both your tenants and their pets.
Pet screenings assess the suitability of pets staying in rental properties—like a tenant background check for animals. These screenings help make sure pets don't cause damage, disturb neighbors, or violate house rules. Here are some key considerations for landlords while conducting a pet screening:
Pet screenings give you the ability to ensure the safety, cleanliness, and peacefulness of your properties—while appealing to a larger rental market. Here's how:
Under the Fair Housing Act, tenants can submit a reasonable accommodation request like housing their service animals. This might involve waiving your no-pet policy or making an exception to house rules or pet guidelines.
Additionally, under the Americans with Disabilities Act, service animals are allowed in public spaces and housing.* Therefore, landlords are required to house pets and cannot charge fees or deposits for service animals.
In these cases, you can ask if the animal is required because of a disability and what tasks it has been trained to perform. You can't, however, request documentation of the disability or require the animal to demonstrate its tasks.
* Similar acts are in force in other regions. For example:
We've explored what pet screenings are, their benefits, and specific regulations that might bypass pet screenings. Now let's take a closer look at how to conduct a screening that lets you make an informed decision about your next tenant applications—and sustain pet-friendly properties.
Make sure potential tenants understand your pet policies upfront. Include information about allowed pet types, breeds, sizes, and any restrictions. You'll also need to specify the documents needed, such as vaccination records, health certificates, and proof of flea/tick prevention.
With a clear picture of what's required, it's easier to move through the screening process and set expectations. This also involves sharing any pet-related fees, pet deposits, or additional pet rent charges the tenant should be aware of.
Pro tip:
Use Minut’s Guest Connect to schedule templated messages, which allows you to automate how you share key information, like pet requirements, access credentials, and house rules.
Allowing pets can pose a risk to landlords and property managers, especially when it comes to the wellbeing of other renters on the property. When screening a pet, it's important to look for signs of aggression or things that would cause noise and neighbor complaints—like incessant barking.
Here are the top three red flags landlords should be aware of:
Lack of basic training. Pets that are too young or haven't undergone basic training like housebreaking can cause damage to the property and create disturbances for neighbors.
Pro tip: Install Minut’s noise monitoring sensor to determine if tenants and their pets are respecting noise levels. Then, send automated messages to ensure they keep the noise down, so you can prevent neighbor complaints before they happen.
To help you get a better idea of your prospective tenant's pet, run through a series of probing questions during the pet screening process. These questions can paint a clearer picture of the pet/owner dynamic and whether they're a good fit for your property. Here are some questions to get you started:
These questions can help you feel more comfortable throughout the screening process by drawing attention to any red flags. Plus, it ensures the owner and pet can adapt well to the rules of a rental environment.
If you do happen upon some red flags along the application process, you might need to take this last and crucial step. Meeting the pet in person is a good opportunity to observe their behavior, ask any follow-up questions, and verify the information provided during the screening.
It might also be helpful to hold the meeting at the rental property. This lets you assess whether the pet appears comfortable and manageable in a new environment similar to or the same as your rental property.
If you're managing your vacation rental remotely, consider setting up a video call with the owner and meeting the pet virtually. This can still be a great way to screen for signs of aggression, nervousness, or hyperactivity—and find the right tenants.
You may have suffered from unruly pets or neighbor complaints in the past, but permanent residents simply want a peaceful existence.
In most cases, you can put everyone's concerns at rest by ensuring the pets you do host match your house rules and pet regulations.
Communicate your expectations to tenants by establishing house rules in your listings and sending scheduled messages during their stay. Also, include pet screening as part of your booking process to better understand the pets that will be living on your property.
In addition, consider installing noise monitoring, crowd control, and home protection sensors to maintain a peaceful environment, and automate messages to ensure tenants and their pets keep the noise down.
By taking advantage of STR technology like Minut, you can keep your residential rental properties in line with noise ordinances and preemptively manage the issues that upset neighbors.
