According to the ASPCA, 37-47% of all Americans have a dog and 30-37% have a cat. That is hundreds of millions of people. All of these people could be potential residents if you allow for pets. However, letting your residents have pets comes with a myriad of problems. So you may be left wondering if you should allow pets as residents. Here is a basic guide for some of the issues you will face if you allow pets so you can be informed before you make this difficult decision.

Pets Cause Expensive Damage 

Both cats and dogs can cause damage to rental properties which can end up costing you a lot of money. Pets will track in dirt, chew and scratch your fixtures, and put holes in your window screening which can all be expensive to replace. The most expensive piece is the carpeting. Between dirt and dander, pet waste, and just wear and tear, you’ll have to replace the carpet after every pet owner moves out.

Reduce The Costs Of Damage 

Even though pets do cause a lot of damage, many pet-free residents can leave behind the same level of damage. So instead of just chalking pets off as an expensive hazard, you can look at ways to reduce the costs of damage. For example instead of carpeting, you can use hard flooring like tile or hardwood. Hard flooring is trending, particularly among millennials, as a desired feature, so it’s a great option. You can also reduce the costs by implementing pet deposits to cover the expenses or by controlling the size or type of pet. Small dogs and cats are not going to cause as much damage as a large dog.

Pets Can Cause Liability Issues 

Property managers also take on some liability issues when they allow pets. This is particularly relevant to property managers that allow dogs. Your renter’s dogs can bite other residents or guests and you may be liable for the cost of damages from these attacks. So if you do allow your residents to have pets you will need to make sure that your insurance covers these issues so you don’t end up in a costly lawsuit or paying for hospital bills. Another thing you can do to protect against this liability is to control what breeds you allow. Aggressive breeds and large breeds can do a lot more damage with a bite than small or toy breeds.

Whether or not to allow your residents to have pets is a big decision. There are a lot of costs and liability associated with this decision. However, with so many pet owners in America, you don’t want to exclude these people as potential occupants. So if you do allow pets just make sure you take some steps to protect your business.