A Landlord Checklist

A Landlord Checklist

Considering the many benefits that living with a companion animal can bring, it is unfortunate that so many building associations and individual landlords reject all tenants with pets. The behavior of a small number of irresponsible pet owners has resulted in severe limitations for responsible pet owners. Overcoming the general inclination of landlords not to rent to you will take a little extra thought and preparation on your part. However, the opportunity to keep your pet makes this effort very worthwhile. The following suggestions may convince a potential landlord of your commitment to your pet, your respect for the landlord’s property and your willingness to abide by the rules of the community.  (previous paragraph copyright Hawaiian Humane Society)

Medical Health

Bring with you a letter of recommendation from your dog’s vet along with a list of current vaccinations and a certificate of health. 

Be prepared to explain what flea treatment program your dog is on. If it helps, you can bring the package to help you remember the name, and to show the property manager. They may be familiar with the product, and they may feel better that you actually have the product and use it by seeing the package. 

To prove your dog is spayed or neutered, remember to bring the certificate from the vet.

Author’s Note: All my pet’s records are kept and organized in a single file from their adoption papers, original altering certificate, any training certificates, microchipping and tattooing paperwork, etc. I have found it easier to keep everything in a single spot, so I don’t have to spend the time looking around in old file boxes for items when I need them. Also, this habit helps to prevent these pertinent items like spay and neuter certificates from becoming lost.  A three-ring binder is another helpful way to organize your pet’s records.

Training/Exercise

One possible concern the property manager may have is that your dog will be destructive inside the apartment or home. You can demonstrate to them how you exercise your dog regularly and take them to training classes. Explain to the property manager who will care for your dog when you are on vacation or away from home. If you use a regular boarding kennel, you can bring a business card to leave with them for them to call to confirm you are a client. 

Along the same lines, they will like to know how your dog is when you are away at work, and will the dog be quiet and not disturb any neighbors. If you take your dog to daycare or to stay with a neighbor, leave that phone number for the manager to call and confirm. 

Summarize your daily exercise routine with your dog. If you go for walks daily, detail their length and duration, as well as how much calmer your dog is following those walks. If you take your dog to dog parks regularly or go to unorganized dog parks, explain how often you go and tell your potential landlord this information and be prepared to explain the location. This will prove that your dog is friendly toward other dogs and people.

In addition to this information, be certain to bring certificates of graduation from whatever training classes your dog has attended. These certificates will not only show that your dog attended some classes and had some formal training, but also shows that you spend time with your dog, and that your dog is a valued member of your family. 

Being a Responsible Owner

If you bring your dog into the rental office, you can show them your dog’s local license and current ID tag. If your dog doesn’t come into the office, you can either bring your dog’s collar or paperwork. Remember to tell them that you always keep your dog’s collar on him or her, with current tags. 

Make sure you remind your potential landlord that your dog is fully housetrained, and that you have a routine of walks and feeding to demonstrate these skills. Demonstrate to them that you are willing to walk your dog on a leash at all times and that you are willing to pick up after your dog at all times on and off the property.

If your dog is crate trained, mention it. Your landlord may not know what is involved in crate training. If he or she is not, then make them comfortable with it by explaining the proper use of a crate in your dog’s training. 

Finally, make sure you bring only traditional pets into your rental, such as dogs, cats, rabbits, guinea pigs, caged birds and fish. Do not bring any exotic animals. 

Past Experience in Rentals

Your potential landlord will certainly be interested to know if you have lived in apartments or other rentals. If you have lived in those rentals with your current dog or another dog, it may be helpful to explain your experience in those rentals, especially with neighbors and property mangers. Were there any complaints about your dog at any of these past addresses and how did you handle them? If your pet caused any damage to the property, describe how you and your property manager worked this out. Did you pay a deposit enough to cover the damage? And certainly explain how you have resolved to prevent these problems from occurring again. If you now use a crate or your dog now goes to a friend’s house or day care during the day be sure to tell them this. Maybe you exercise the dog more often, or maybe the dog had a medical condition that has since been resolved.

If you are an experienced renter in apartments or other rentals with your dog, remember to bring any letters of recommendation from your current landlord or past landlords.

If you feel that the property manager is still hesitant about renting to you and your dog, offer to have them check inside the apartment in a month or two or three to calm their hesitation about possible destruction to their property.

Most organized apartment complexes will have you sign a lease just for renting the apartment, and then most also have you sign a separate “Pet Lease.” This will detail all the requirements, rules and restrictions of having a pet on their property. An individual property owner of a couple of houses may or may not have a separate Pet Lease. They may include pet requirements in the regular rental lease. 

Offer to fill out and sign a Pet Application. 

Be willing to pay an additional deposit called a “Pet Deposit” and/or an additional monthly pet rent.