Why Having Pet-Loving Tenants Might Pay Off

Pet ownership takes commitment and responsibility. Does this sound like the kind of attributes you would like to see in your tenants?

There are currently more pet owning tenants than there are pet-friendly properties for rent. These people and their pets present us with an entirely underappreciated demographic just waiting to be targeted! Converting a property to accommodate animals now presents an opportunity to homeowners; a game-changing edge in the search for responsible, respectable tenants. Being a much-loved priority to their owners, pets can often dictate a person’s living circumstances simply by existing. Owners are willing to live further from work and pay more all in the name of housing their fur-babies.

We are all aware of the cons that tend to be associated with tenants letting their pets dwell in rented homes (odours, scratching, stains and loud noise). The pros of going pet-friendly are, however, not so commonly considered. 

So what benefits can you expect to see when deciding to go pro-pet?

Tendency to stay longer

Here is an experiment we encourage you to try: start a search online for a property that comfortably meets all your requirements while staying within your budget. You should find enough results to scroll through for more than a few pages. Now try the exact same search again with ‘pet-friendly’ added to your field of requirements. Notice how the results drop?

Consider too the fact that most (if not all) of the ‘pet-friendly’ properties that might have appeared in your results are only accepting a single pet or a specific type of pet. The property might say ‘pet-friendly’ but in the fine print the homeowner might restrict this to rabbits and cats; no dogs. Imagine the struggle you would face trying to find a house that accommodates one of each. After months of searching, you would probably be prepared to settle for less or pay more just to house yourself and your dog-plus-cat combo.

Evidently you can see that successfully landing a property for yourself and your pet is challenging, to say the least. This fact alone is enough to not only keep a tenant long term; it also gives them a deep set appreciation for their hard-won accommodation. Once they have settled into a pet-friendly property, the hassle of hunting for another might be enough to keep them grounded for a while.  Owners will often opt to stick around in one place as long as they can to avoid placing unnecessary stress upon their animals.

Caring for their flats as much as their cats

Property managers will be the first to admit that a tenant who carefully maintains a pet will reciprocate these qualities in caring for their home. A well-disciplined pet can be a neon sign directing you to a quality tenant: if they can successfully raise a dog or cat, they can successfully keep a tidy flat.

Going pro-pet could also be setting you up for a future of friendly dealings with tenants, all thanks to their fluffy friends.

Fur-babies mean financial gain

Even before initiating a property search online or off, pet owners are generally aware and unblinkingly anticipating the fact that they will be paying more than a pet-less tenant would for quality accommodation. Homeowners can confidently expect a good return when animals are added to the arrangement. 

Pet owners are the undiscovered, unappreciated demographic homeowners should absolutely consider catering to. They understand that they are a minority, and will thus be more appreciative of whatever property they end up renting. If your property is currently anti-animals, do take the time to discuss the option of becoming pet-friendly with your property manager today; you might just find yourself reaping the rewards of long-term, happily settled tenants. 

(Sources From http://www.oxygen.co.nz/news/pet-owners-the-un)