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Unapproved Pets: How to Handle Unauthorized Animals in Your Rentals

Unapproved Pets: How to Handle Unauthorized Animals in Your Rentals

Unapproved Pets: How to Handle Unauthorized Furry (or Scaly) Tenants in Your Rentals 🐢🐱🐍

Pets can be a great revenue boost for property managers who charge pet rent and deposits—but what about those unapproved pets that sneak in under the radar? Whether it’s a tenant who “forgot” to mention their Great Dane or a surprise discovery during an inspection, unauthorized pets can lead to property damage, liability issues, and lease violations.

Instead of scrambling every time you find an unapproved pet, a clear policy and process will help you handle these situations fairly, consistently, and profitably. That’s exactly what we’re covering in this latest PMAssist Insider lesson—plus, we’re giving you a FREE LeadSimple automation process to track and manage violations! πŸš€


Why You Need a Strong Unapproved Pet Policy

Let’s face it—tenants aren’t always upfront about their pets. Some assume they can sneak them in, others don’t realize certain restrictions apply, and a few just don’t want to pay pet fees.

A clear, enforceable pet policy ensures:
βœ… Consistent enforcement – No playing favorites or making case-by-case decisions.
βœ… Protection for owners & properties – Unapproved pets can cause damage or liability risks.
βœ… Revenue opportunities – Pet fees, deposits, and fines keep things fair for compliant tenants.
βœ… Legal protection – Documenting pet violations reduces risk if an issue escalates.

πŸ’‘ Pro Tip: Your lease should include explicit pet policies and outline the consequences of having unauthorized animals.


How to Find Unapproved Pets πŸ•΅οΈ‍♂️

You don’t have to be Sherlock Holmes to spot unauthorized pets—just use a proactive approach:

πŸ” Routine Inspections: Always look for signs of pets (food bowls, fur, odors) during inspections.
πŸ“Έ Maintenance Reports: Train vendors to report pet evidence during service calls.
πŸšͺ Neighbor Complaints: Tenants often report unapproved pets when they cause noise or damage.
πŸ›‘ Online Clues: Some tenants slip up by posting their pets on social media or pet-sitting apps.

The sooner you find unapproved pets, the easier it is to enforce your policy before damage occurs.


Fees & Handling Pet Damage Guarantees

Once you confirm an unauthorized pet, it’s time to enforce your policy. Common approaches include:

βœ” Unapproved Pet Fee: Charge a violation fee for having an unapproved pet in the unit.
βœ” Backdated Pet Rent: Require tenants to pay pet rent from the time the pet was first discovered.
βœ” Pet Deposit or Pet Damage Guarantee: If you allow the pet to stay, require a deposit or enroll them in a pet damage guarantee program.
βœ” Lease Violation Consequences: If tenants refuse to comply, issue a formal lease violation notice and escalate as needed.

πŸ’‘ Pro Tip: If your local laws allow, charging higher fees for unauthorized pets than for approved ones incentivizes honesty.


Conducting a Pet Inspection 🏠🐾

Once a pet is identified, a pet-specific inspection can help assess damage and compliance:
πŸ”Ή Check for damage (scratched floors, odors, chewed trim, excessive fur).
πŸ”Ή Confirm pet details (size, breed, number of animals—some tenants “forget” the extra ones).
πŸ”Ή Ensure compliance with local laws (vaccinations, licensing, breed restrictions).

If the pet doesn’t meet policy standards, you’ll need to enforce lease terms or discuss options for removal.


Automating the Process: FREE LeadSimple Workflow

Tracking unapproved pet violations manually can be a nightmare. That’s why we’re giving PMAssist Insider members a ready-to-use LeadSimple workflow to:

βœ… Log pet violations & track compliance
βœ… Automatically notify tenants of fees & next steps
βœ… Schedule follow-up inspections
βœ… Maintain documentation for legal protection

πŸ“’ Want access to this automation? It’s included in PMAssist Insider! Get it here: bit.ly/pmainsider


Final Thoughts: Enforce Pet Policies Fairly & Profitably

Unapproved pets don’t have to be a hassle—with a clear policy, a proactive inspection process, and automated tracking, you can handle unauthorized pets efficiently and profitably.

πŸ“’ Want the full guide + FREE automation tools?
Join PMAssist Insider and get the LeadSimple workflow to manage unapproved pets effortlessly!

πŸ”— Join now.

Have you ever discovered a surprising pet in one of your rentals? 🐍🐒🐦 Share your wildest stories in the comments! ⬇️

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