Pets in Rentals: Risks, Rewards, and Rules

Turns out, about 62% of Americans have a pet, and a vast majority treat their animals like family. That’s a lot of people who will immediately cross off any listing with a “no pets” sign. So I dove into the risks, rewards, and rules—and here’s some tips from AOOA.

Pros & Cons of Allowing Pets

✅ Pros

• Larger pool of applicants — More people will apply if your property is pet-friendly.

• Longer tenant retention — Pet owners often stay put longer when they find a rental that accepts their animals.

• Additional revenue options — Pet fees/rent or higher deposits (where legal) can help offset extra wear and tear

⚠️ Cons/Risks

• Property damage: scratched floors, chewed trim, stained carpets.

• Noise, odors, complaints from neighbors.

• Legal issues: misclassifying service or emotional support animals, or failing to follow fair housing laws.

Craft a Pet-Friendly Policy

Here are some practical steps (and that I think every landlord should consider), to allow pets responsibly:

• Screen each pet individually — Don’t rely on breed or size alone. Ask for vaccination records, behavioral history, even chat with former landlords.

• Previous landlord reference — Did the tenant’s pet cause damage before? Was there barking or nuisance issues? These tell a lot.

• Clear health & sterilization requirements — Up-to-date vaccines, spaying/neutering when possible. Helps reduce risk and behavior issues.

• Service & emotional support animals — Know the law. These aren’t “pets” in the eyes of fair housing. You can’t refuse, charge pet fees, or impose breed-or-size restrictions for them.

  • Define acceptable behavior and rules in the lease

  • No tying dogs outside for long periods

  • Cats are indoor-only (if that’s your rule)

  • Tenants must clean up waste immediately

  • No excessive barking/disruption

• Security deposit or pet fee — Where local laws allow, I added a higher deposit or a non-refundable pet fee to help cover damage. But be very careful not to violate rules around service/support animals.

Allowing pets in your rental isn’t for everyone. But if you do it smartly—by screening well, using proper fees or deposits where legal, writing clear behavior rules, and respecting legal protections—you can tap into a large market, improve occupancy, and still protect your investment.