Blog Post

Allowing a Pet in Your Rental

Dustin Edwards • Jan 19, 2020

Pros and Cons of Allowing a Pet in Your Rental

Girl with Dog - Allow a Pet in Your Rental?
One of the larger dilemmas that a property owner will face when preparing to rent their home is what to do about pets. Many homeowners have dogs and cats, but when they transform their home into a rental they have concerns about allowing the prospective renter the same freedom.

All too often there are a series of questions that can swirl in one’s mind. Just a few of the questions we have been asked over the years include:

  • Should I allow any pets?
  • Should I limit the types of pets?
  • If I allow pets, how many would be ok?
  • What is the impact to my property if I allow pets?
  • Will my insurance be impacted if I allow certain types of pets?
  • Can I get a premium if I allow pets?
  • Do I limit the prospective renters if I don’t allow pets?
Of course we would be happy to answer all of these questions (and more) but to help you now, let’s tackle a few of the most common ones:

Will my Insurance be impacted if I allow certain types of pets?

While we aren’t insurance agents there is no doubt that your insurance could be impacted by the type of animals that are allowed on a property. There is a reason why many insurance carriers will ask if you have a dog and the weight of that dog when you are getting your insurance. Large dogs and even certain breeds of dogs can have an impact on your insurance. This is most easily seen in condos (HOA’s must carry insurance) where the insurance has limitations on breed and weight of dogs allowed but the same is often true for single family home policies. Keep in mind that not every insurance carrier has limitations, which means before you worry check with your current insurance carrier.

What is the impact to my property if I allow pets?

This is one of those scenarios where it is a more of “it depends”. There are some tenants where after years in a home you wouldn’t even know they had a pet. There are other tenants where it is obvious that the pet enjoyed a bit too much freedom within the home. Pets can encourage a renter to stay longer (it can be difficult to find pet friendly properties) and on the other side, pets are one of the leading causes of damage to a property.

Pets are certainly one of the most common questions that we are asked about by both property owners and tenants. One way we help our property owners is through the use of the FIDO score where we ask 30 questions of our prospective tenants to find out more about their pet. Call us today at (562) 888-0247 or simply fill out our property evaluation form to find out more about how we can help with your property.

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By Dustin Edwards 01 May, 2024
Everyone wants to feel safe in their homes. As an investment property owner, it's up to you to decide whether or not to include security measures in your property. Many of the costs associated with the security measures can be included in the rent, meaning not only can you keep your property safe, but you can earn more income in the long run. However, you would still want your tenants to have renters insurance to protect their assets. Today, we’ll discuss the top five security measures you can add to your property and why they're beneficial to you and your tenant. Security Cameras Cameras are probably one of the first security measures people think about when asked about security. Cameras provide more benefits than just surveillance. They provide an extra level of security for the safety of the tenants and their belongings. Additionally, security cameras can be useful when repairs are required. Cameras can aid in supervising repairs and maintenance to ensure you’re receiving the agreed-upon work. During vacancies when the property is empty, security cameras can help keep the property safe from potential intruders. Doorbell cameras are incredibly popular now. They provide the aforementioned safety of a camera that can be accessed remotely, as well as the ability to communicate with visitors. Although one must be careful never to say you're not home, just say you're unavailable to strangers. Security Lights Security lights with motion detectors are another effective tool when adding security measures to your property. These lights brightly if a potential intruder attempts to get near your home. They can provide enough illumination to see the intruder or, at the very least, scare them off. Nowadays, you can find a combination of security cameras and motion-activated security lights, such as the floodlight cam wired plus from Ring . Additionally, because these lights only turn on when motion is detected, they’re more cost-effective than traditional lights with a switch. Illuminate the Property Light generally deters intruders as it's more difficult to hide. Adding lighting to the landscaping can increase the security of the property while creating a relaxing atmosphere. Lights can also be used in other areas of the property to accent features such as trees, benches, or artwork. This can help your property stand out while giving your tenants an additional feeling of safety. Keyless Entry Keyless entry is seen as both a convenience feature and a security feature. They usually use an electronic passcode, biometric data, or grant access through a smartphone app. Physical keys can be lost, stolen, or duplicated. You reduce the risk of unauthorized entry by eliminating the need for a physical key to enter the property. Many keyless entry systems include several features, such as remote locking and monitoring. Although keyless entry is a great new technology for keeping your tenants and properties safe, they’re best used with other security systems. Security Company Nothing beats having an extra pair of eyes on your property for security. This is where security companies like ADT and SimpliSafe come in. While companies may deal with security in varying ways, they aim to protect your investment. While safety is the primary role of a security company, remember that many tenants may be willing to pay more for a premium amenity like a home security company. Keeping your property and tenants safe is incredibly important to the longevity of an investment property. If you’re looking to improve the security of your Long Beach rental property or need help managing your beach city rental property, we invite you to call us today at (562) 888-0247 or fill out our Owner Application online .
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