Should You Allow Pets In Your Rental Property?
- Jan 27
- 2 min read
Allowing pets can be a smart move to attract more tenants and boost returns, but it's not without risks. Let's break down the decision to allow or not allow pets simply with data from credible sources to help you decide what's best for your properties.
Pet Ownership in Texas: The Big Picture
Texas is a pet-loving state. About 58.2% of households own at least one pet, with dogs in 43.4% of homes and cats in 20.5%. This means a huge pool of potential renters—nearly 6 in 10—have pets and are seeking pet-friendly options. Restricting pets could limit your applicant pool significantly.
The Benefits: Why Pet-Friendly Policies Pay Off
Allowing pets can enhance your bottom line and tenant satisfaction. Here's the data:
Higher Rents and Premiums: Pet-friendly rentals command an 11.6% premium over no-pet properties. You can monthly pet rent to help offset some of the risks.
Faster Leasing and Lower Vacancies: These homes lease 8 days faster on average. With high demand, you'll spend less on marketing and turnover.
Longer Tenancies and Retention: Pet owners stay 21% longer, reducing costly vacancies. 83% of property owners report higher retention with pet-inclusive policies
The Risks: Potential Drawbacks to Consider
Pets aren't always perfect tenants. Weigh these cons:
Property Damage: Scratches, stains, or odors can occur, though data shows less than 10% of pets cause any damage, averaging just $200 per incident. Still, it's a common concern for landlords.
Nuisance and Liability: Noise, allergies, or bites could affect neighbors, potentially raising insurance premiums by about $150 annually. Require tenants to carry renters insurance covering pet-related incidents.
Hidden Pets if Banned: No-pet policies might lead to sneaky pets, forfeiting deposits and increasing risks.
Legal Note: Under Texas and federal laws, you must accommodate service animals and emotional support animals (ESAs) without pet fees or restrictions, even in no-pet properties. A recent Texas law (HB410) lets you choose between one-time deposits or monthly fees for regular pets.
How We Help Manage Your Pet Risks
We partner with PetScreening.com, a leading pet policy management platform used by over 28k pet-friendly companies and managing more than 7 million units nationwide. Their digital screening service helps us evaluate pet profiles efficiently assessing factors like breed, size, behavior history, and vaccination reocord to identify responsible pet owners and mitigate potential issues.
For ESA's, PetScreening.com also handles service anaimal vaidation in full compliance with FHA and HUD guidelines, reviewing accommodation requests without extra fees or deposits as required by law. This centralized, no-cost process provides better data to protect your investment.
By using PetScreening.com, we can help you become more pet-inclusive if you decide to allow pets and unlock additional revenue for your portfolio while minimizing risks.
If you have any questions about our pet screening process, or if we can simply be a resource to help guide you in the decision process, text or call us today!
Darling Property Management
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