Some people say that home is where the heart is, and for a number of renters, home is also the place they share with their beloved pets. The latest multifamily amenities have been designed in a fashion that would attract pet owners that have been made to look for accommodation elsewhere – somewhere their furry little friends will be welcome.
However, not all neighbors are cut out to keep animals in their rental apartments and not all creatures are trained to live within the confines of the same. This is above and beyond the fact that the pet parents are following the expertly and clearly communicated rules of the rental units.
Most of the debates tend to center around the types of animals that qualify as the right pets, or when a service animal qualifies as a pet and in what circumstances an emotional support animal will be genuinely needed.
It Is Wise to Be Animal Friendly
Multifamily or single family operators will be wise to be animal friendly since it builds competitive edge for their property and allows tenants emotionally bonded and attached with animals to live freely. According to experts, the adoption rate of animals had increased by over 60% since the very beginning of the pandemic since people were staying home.
These people were lonely and having a pet made a significant difference in filling out vacancies as well as the emotional needs of their tenants.
Classic Example
One of the most heart touching stories we have witnessed is when a young Floridian, who was a classic introvert, was made to work from home because of the ongoing circumstances. This man had a lot of trouble being around people and he even had some symptoms of agoraphobia.
One day this Floridian had walked out on the deck of his home and had stumbled upon a baby duck. After taking this animal inside, he began to care for it, and had even formed a bond with the creature. When his property managers told him that he had to get rid of the duck, the man went so far as to hire an attorney so he could take the matter to court.
Once the man argued that he was being restrained from living a ‘normal’ life, the judge had no choice but to rule in the favor of the tenant and allowed him to keep the duck. The Floridian man had argued that, “I can’t live a normal life. I can’t go outside my home. I’m uncomfortable going to get my mail. I have bonded with this duck, and he is my companion animal’ … obviously the man needs the duck.”
Sure, it shouldn’t be your goal to get stuck with a massive 155-pound miniature horse, which is why you need to be reasonable and fair with the rules for pets that you set in your rental property. It should be your goal to protect your real estate as well as ensuring the comfort of all of your neighbors.
Final Thoughts
Hopefully, after following these tips you will be able to grow your property business into new locations or maximize its profits.
If you’re looking forward to trying out any of these tips in your rental property you can always delegate these tasks to your property manager or hire the right professionals for the task at hand. The only thing you will be responsible for is to offer your potential tenants more affordability, more personalization, and authenticity as opposed to worrying about your safety.
If you haven’t hired a property manager already, click here to learn more about our services and how an experienced property manager can share some of your burdens.
