A Landlord’s Guide to Pet Screening

According to the latest data, 72% of renters own a pet. If you own a property and want to find a renter, chances are they are going to want to bring a pet with them.  You can protect yourself by increasing the security deposit or charging a higher rent (if your state allows for such practices.)  In addition, you can conduct a form of pet screening or a pet interview.

First, you can consider using a service like Pet Screening which will build a risk profile based on breed, pictures, weight, vaccination records, and behavior.

If that sounds too formal, you can add a section to your application or create a supplemental application with questions like these from Rental-Housing.com:

• What type of pet do you have?
• How long have you owned your pet?
• Can you provide a letter from your veterinarian confirming that each pet is in good health and up-to-date on vaccinations?
• Can you provide a written reference for your pet from your current landlord?
• Has there been any damage or complaints about your pet at your current address?
• Does your pet have any medical or behavioral problems? If so, what treatment or training are you using?
• Who will care for your pet when you are on vacation or during a medical emergency?
• Do you agree to pay a pet security deposit of $
• Do you agree to additional rent of $

• For Cat Owners
• Has your cat been spayed or neutered?
• Do you keep your cat indoors?
• Does your cat use the litter box that you provide?
• Does your cat wear an identification tag and license tag?
• Is your cat registered with the local animal care and control authority?
• How often do you treat your cat for fleas and ticks?

• For Dog Owners
• Have you and your dog completed a dog training class?
• Has your dog been spayed or neutered?
• Is your dog licensed and wearing an identification tag?
• Do you keep your dog on a leash when you go for walks?
• Do you always make a point of immediately cleaning up after your dog?
• Is your dog housetrained?
• How much time does your dog spend alone each day?
• How often do you treat your dog for fleas and ticks?

For other pets like fish, snakes, or hamsters it would be wise to Google some common questions that are specific to those pets.

Finally, it may be helpful to create a sample pet profile with a photo, name, age, breed, size, health summary, behavioral tendencies or completed training, and “about me.”  This would give prospective tenants a chance to see what you’re looking for.  A sample pet resume template can be found on Turbo Tenant’s website.

Of course, this is a lot of work to handle which is why many property owners seek out property management companies.  If you’re in the Greater Cincinnati area and you want to rent out a home or apartment but don’t want to deal with the hassle of finding and vetting tenants, then consider Cincy Rents Property Management services which offer lots of perks at competitive prices. Read our reviews to hear how we make life hassle-free for property owners.