Dallas Texas Property Management : More Pet Concerns

As you know there are a lot of people around the world who are animal lovers at heart. These people may only have one pet or ten pets, but they all will make a lot of sacrifices before they abandon their pets. For investors involved in Dallas apartment management, this can make the decision of whether to accept pets or not difficult. There are several positive aspects associated with pets that many property management firms in Dallas, TX acknowledge, including: less difficulty finding tenants, tenants are happier and tenants may stay in rentals longer as a result.

However, there are some concerns that you and your Dallas, Texas property manager should carefully think through before you agree to allow pets. These include the following:

• Liability - If one tenant has a dog in his property and it attacks someone, you may be found liable because you are the owner and the Dallas, Texas property manager. These cases are very rare, but they do happen occasionally. You should check your state laws regarding landlord pet liability. In most states, before a landlord can be found guilty, it must be proven that he knew the dog posed a threat and that he had the ability to (legally) remove the dog from the property or make the tenant leave.
  
  
• Dangerous Pets - As mentioned above, investors/landlords can be held liable for injuries caused by a tenant's pet if certain criteria are met. One of these is the owner/manager must have been aware that the pet was dangerous. This is why the majority of property management firms in Dallas, TX restrict renters from having any pet that is deemed "dangerous." For dogs, there are specific dog breeds that are listed as dangerous and/or vicious. It is a good idea to ban these breeds from your rental properties.
  
  
• Property Damages - Another concern is the amount of damages that can be caused by certain pets. Cats and dogs can ruin carpet if the owner isn't responsible and lets them soil the carpet, which can cost an investor money once the move out. Also, many dogs, especially puppies, like to chew on things. It doesn't matter if it's a dog toy, the baseboards or the door...if a dog wants to chew on something, there is a risk that it will be attached to your rental. All of these things, cost money to fix. Therefore, if you do allow pets, make sure the contract your Dallas, Texas property management has tenants sign requires a deposit for pets.

If you are a new investor and aren't sure about whether your Dallas apartment management should allow tenants to have pets, then carefully consider the points listed above. There is nothing wrong with saying "no" to pets...or allowing some (birds, fish, small reptiles) while restricting others (dogs and cats). It is totally up to you and you should only do what you're comfortable with.