Pet screening: it’s a big part of a property manager’s responsibilities, but – as any PM will say – it can also be a major headache.
More residents have pets now than ever before. According to the 2023-2024 American Pet Products Association’s (APPA) National Pet Owner Survey, 66% of U.S. households own a pet.
That means property managers are dealing with pets more often than not. On the flip side, investor clients may be reticent to allow pets on their properties.
The result? It can be tough to fill vacancies in properties where pets aren’t allowed or the screening standards are too restrictive. So, how do you handle these situations? How do you push for more pet-friendly policies if you need to fill vacancies? How do you protect yourself and your investors from risk?
In this article, we’re sharing the best advice we’ve gotten about pet screening, why it’s important to do it well, the steps to a good pet screening process, and a pet screening checklist.
Pet screening is the thorough evaluation of a prospective tenant's pet before approving their lease application. Essentially, it’s a pet background check. It's not just about keeping furry friends out of your pristine property; it's about minimizing risks, following any service animal requirements and ensuring you are protected from any potential damage.
A thoughtful pet screening process allows you to delve into the true compatibility between a pet, its owner, and your rental property – and to ensure you’re prepared for any associated risks.
A note about assistance animals: It’s important to distinguish that we’re talking about pets not assistance animals. If you’re dealing with an assistance animal, you should not have the word “pet” anywhere on the lease. This may sound odd to laypeople, but an assistance animal is legally considered a disability device, not a pet. Assistance animals include service animals, emotional support animals, etc.
How you deal with assistance animals – both service and support – is guided by your local laws. Property managers should familiarize themselves with the Fair Housing Act, specifically the FHEO-2020-01 Assistance Animals Notice from HUD, for guidance on assistance animals. These animals are regulated through guidance by the ADA and ESA.
But for animals that are simply there as beloved pets, you need to set up your own standards for pet screening – and understand where reasonable accommodation must be made.
Properly setting expectations and standards for pets – and screening any new pets at the home you manage – creates a number of benefits for you, the resident, and the investor.
Here’s why it’s so important:
One of the primary reasons for pet screening is to protect the property from potential damage.
Pets can sometimes cause significant wear and tear beyond the usual scope, like scratched floors, damaged fixtures, or stained carpets. By conducting a thorough pet screening, property managers can assess the risk each pet poses to the property. This process often involves checking the pet’s breed, size, temperament, and history of behavior.
Understanding these factors helps in making informed decisions about whether to permit the pet and setting appropriate pet deposits or pet rent to cover potential damages.
Ensuring the safety and comfort of your residents – and their impact on the neighborhood – is a top priority, and pet screening plays a crucial role in this.
Some pets may pose a safety risk, especially if they have a history of aggression. By screening pets, property managers can prevent potentially dangerous situations, ensuring that you don’t end up having to deal with complaints or legal repercussions.
Other pets may simply be a nuisance. Excessive barking in the backyard can bring noise complaints, etc.
Pet screening is a proactive measure to mitigate various risks associated with allowing pets on the property. These risks include potential legal liabilities in case of pet-related incidents, such as bites or property damage.
Having a detailed pet policy and screening process in place can protect the property management company from legal disputes and financial losses. Moreover, it ensures that pet owners are responsible and aware of their obligations, which include taking care of their pets.
Incorporating a comprehensive pet screening process not only safeguards the physical property but also contributes to the overall well-being and safety of the home, neighbors, etc.
According to Victoria Cowart, Director of Education and Outreach at PetScreening.com, the most important factor in your pet screening process is consistency.
“The best policies are the ones consistently applied,” Cowart says. “That’s the greatest challenge I see in the industry.”
Here are the steps to a successful pet screening process.
Start with establishing the rules on your properties. Remember, you should be consistent in how those rules are applied across all of your portfolio, so don't make a rule unless you’re willing to enforce it equally.
Make sure that all prospective residents are clear on the rules, restrictions, and fees associated with pet ownership. Do you charge a pet fee like a pet deposit fee? Make that clear from the start.
While the pet screening process is very precise and should be taken seriously, you can also use tools and third-party services to help make it easier. PetScreening.com is one pet screening service that supports property managers in pet screening.
Instead of leaving you with all the decisions to make, Pet Screening does it all for you. They have an in-depth questionnaire and screening process. In the end, they provide you with a FIDO score that assesses everything you need to know about the pet.
For any prospective residents who are pet owners, the next step is to have them start the application process. This is the key part of the pet screening process.
When outlining the content of your pet screening application, Cowart says to focus on two pillars: liability and responsibility. Liability will focus on the animal’s history. Responsibility is more like a “tenant screening” that will focus on the owner’s habits.
“You need to know how much the resident is doing to ensure their pet doesn’t have an adverse impact on the rental and on the community,” says Cowart. “Are they picking up after their animal? Do they walk them on a leash? Do they take them to the vet regularly?”
The application should include pet profile details like:
(See our full checklist below for more.)
Many property managers focus on breed restrictions, but the evidence shows that breed is less of a factor in a pet’s behavior than you might think. The animal’s history and the owner’s behavior are more important to look for red flags of whether a dog is aggressive or not. Breed or weight questions should always include greater context.
Not all property managers will feel the need to do this. However, having a member of your team meet the animal in person may be something your investor-clients want or that you feel helps establish a better relationship and limit liability.
This is also more common in apartment complexes or multifamily housing. For single-family property managers, the pet interview isn’t necessarily as important.
However, if you do conduct a pet interview, it’s important to confirm that the pet you’re meeting matches the description in the application. Pay attention to how well it listens, how it approaches you, and whether it shows any signs of aggression.
Before approving or denying a pet, do a final check to make sure you’re following all local, state, and federal laws. This is most important when considering assistance animals. Even homes with a no-pet policy will often need to accept assistance animals.
You should have a pet addendum ready for your lease signing. Walk the new residents through these. They shouldn’t be surprised by anything if you follow Step 1 and are clear with them on rules and fees from the beginning. If you require a pet security deposit, that should be given at this time as well.
A big reason people deny pets is because they feel unsure about the risks and they don’t have a way of addressing them. That’s what insurance is for, but here’s the rub: A lot of pet owner policies exclude a lot of breeds, which can limit the number of residents you can approve at your properties.
At Second Nature, we provide a renter’s insurance program that covers dog bits for all dog breeds. It’s one of the few programs on the market that doesn’t include breed restrictions. Second Nature’s renter’s insurance program (a part of our Resident Benefits Package) covers all breeds that the property manager approves.
What are the benefits? Residents with household pets have stronger lease retention than residents without pets as a group. Furthermore, residents with aggressive breed dogs have a higher lease retention than residents in general. Fewer properties are available to those residents because most people are saying no to their pets.
You can be the one who says yes – and gets a happier resident who wants to stay longer and be a responsible pet owner. With the right coverage, you can:
It’s a win for the pet owner, a win for you, and a win for your clients.
Here’s a brief checklist to help you keep track of what you need to know about pets. Share this with prospective residents to help them prepare what they’ll need.
Pet screening doesn’t have to be a major headache. With the right tools and a standardized process, you can make it easier on your team and easier on prospective residents. The goal, after all, is to find residents who will care well for their pet and the property – and hopefully stay for the long term.
At Second Nature, we provide extensive pet coverage in our Resident Benefits Package. The goal is to reduce liability for you and make it easier to accept good pets, regardless of their breed. Rest easy knowing you and your residents are covered.