A common question we get is whether pets are allowed in our rental properties, and we leave that decision up to the homeowner. You can decide whether or not you want to allow tenants with pets. There are a few things to consider when you’re making that decision.
First, you need to think about how rentable your property is. If it’s very rentable, then it’s easy to say no to pets. What you need to remember is that when you say no pets, it greatly reduces the number of inquiries you’ll get. Your pool of potential tenants shrinks, so it might extend the time it takes you to find a qualified renter.
When our owners do allow pets, there are a few things we recommend to help mitigate any potential loss or damage to the property. In Michigan, you can ask for the equivalent of a month and a half’s rent in your security deposit. So, asking for a larger deposit from people moving in with pets can help. Property owners can also charge a little more in rent every month and ask for a pet fee for each pet. These 
are the different types of things you want to do to make it financially safe in case a pet does some damage.
One thing that’s important to note is that pet policies do not cover service animals or support animals. That’s a separate issue completely, and we’d be happy to tell you more about it if you’re confused about the difference between pets and service animals.
Feel free to contact us at Real Property Management Southwest Michigan, and we can answer any questions you might have.
We are pledged to the letter and spirit of U.S. policy for the achievement of equal housing opportunity throughout the Nation. See Equal Housing Opportunity Statement for more information.
