Blog Post

What to Consider When Allowing Pets in Your Rental

Dustin Edwards • Feb 21, 2022

Pets Can Be A Great Addition To Your Long Beach Rental

If you are willing to allow pets in your Long Beach rental property, this can unlock a new market of tenants you may not have previously taken into account. As tenants looking for a rental that allows pets are becoming common. Pets can encourage renters to occupy your property longer as it can be difficult to find pet friendly rentals. With this in mind there are some things you may consider before making the decision and below we’ll discuss common questions you may have about allowing pets in your rental.


Impact on your Insurance

Though we are not insurance agents it is likely that your insurance could be impacted by the types of animals you are willing to reside within your property. For example many insurance companies have differing policies when it comes to the size and breed of dogs. Depending on these factors there may be an impact on your insurance policy.


Some animals such as goldfish as well as service dogs shouldn't have an effect on your insurance. Dog breeds such as chihuahuas and pugs have a low impact on insurance because of their size, whereas chow chow, American pit bull terrier and akita are usually not covered by insurances due to being considered higher- risk. If the animal is an outdoor pet it will likely have an adverse effect on insurance unless
properly fenced. Finally the history of the animal can be cause for concern especially if it has lashed out and bitten someone in the past.


Increased Wear and Damage to Property

Pets can do serious damage to your rental property, but keeping long term tenants may be worth the investment. Some of the more common wear to your rental would be carpets, window screen, wall and door scratches, mainly exit doors and bedroom doors. With carpets taking the worst damage because some pets scratch, chew and even soil it. A recommendation to avoid this is replacing carpet with tile or hardwood flooring as these are more durable when dealing with pets compared to a carpet. Though these costs can be mitigated by implementing a pet security deposit. 


Pet Deposit or Monthly Pet Fee

As mentioned above, allowing pets is a great way to keep your tenants long term. It is true that pets are part of the family but it goes without saying that pets also can cause property damage. Be sure to communicate to your applicant that if they want to bring a pet with them, then there is an added fee to the security deposit. Let them know that the extra security deposit is to cover any potential damage their pet might cause to the property, as well as any cleaning that would need to take place due to the pet’s odors.


In some cases, in lieu of a pet deposit there is a monthly pet fee. This fee can range from $25-$100 a month and can vary in price based on the type of animal (i.e. usually cats are cheaper than dogs) and number of pets. If you are considering a monthly fee, connect with your potential
property management company to determine if a one-time pet deposit or a monthly pet fee is best for your property.


Screening the Pet

We screen all of our property applicants and pets are no different. With the increase of tenants with pets, our objective is to determine which pets are safe for both the tenant and the property. You can read more about how we screen applicants' pets in our previous post Managing the Property and the Pet where the pet gets a FIDO score after the applicant answers a series of questions relating to the pet. By giving the applicant’s pet its own ranking we can increase the likelihood of having your rental occupied by responsible pet owners, and well behaved pets.


Allowing pets in your Beach Rental Property can be challenging to new landlords, but also rewarding as having happy, long term tenants can provide consistent income with fewer unit turnover expenses. Call us today at (562) 888-0247 or fill out our
property evaluation form to find out more about how we can help with your property.

Share this post

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 .
By Dustin Edwards 19 Apr, 2024
Communication is key to maintaining good relationships with clients. However, there are several ways to communicate, so we intend to give you the best methods we've explored.
By Dustin Edwards 10 Apr, 2024
If you're thinking about how much different managing condos are from single-family homes, look at these top 5 reasons.
Show More
Share by: