My lease states that the tentant has only one dog. I drive by the property and see two dogs in the yard and 2 cats in the window. When confronted they didn’t deny it. Told them to get rid of the pets, they don’t. Unfortunately I am in a very seasonal rental area and don’t want to have to cover the mortgage, knowing that the earliest i’d be able to get a decent renter in their for 6 months. It would put me in a financial bind if I had to carry the mortgage. The extra dog is a puppy and I do not want it ruining my house and my lawn which it has already dug holes all over the yard. What are my options?
Your options are limited by your willingness to evict. I would first try to negotiate with the tenants now,knowing that it is not from a position of strength. But they don’t know that and see if they call your bluff.
I allow pets too but in my lease and in my policy statement all pets are 50.00 dollars per month per pet. Most will pay for 1 pet if they want a zoo then they pay zoo prices.
You also must decide how much damage these pets can cause because it can be more than 6 months rent. Will you be better off with them and the pets and the damage they will almost certainly leave or without them and no rent for awhile and no damage.
I would negotiate and try to get more money to cover the liability and I would also inspect every month so if the house reeks of cat then an eviction can start.
I would not allow more people to show up nor will I allow more pets to just show up. If the dogs bite someone or the cats scratch someone you are liable, that why I insist on renters insurance that covers pets before they rent from me. Now there is some food for thought.
dennisg
Your only real power to make tenants behave is your ability to evict.
I don’t allow my tenants to drive our relationship. I’d give them a 72 hour notice to get rid of the puppy, and if the puppy wasn’t gone in 72 hours, they’d get their notice to move out.
Your tenants can tell that you won’t evict, and so they are going to ignore you. My tenants, on the other hand, don’t get that new puppy in the first place because they know I won’t allow them to get away with it.
You need to start the eviction process. Since the area is a seasonal rental area their options are likely limited also. But as soon as they get theh demand letter (However your state laws work) they will probably get rid of the extra animals.