Prospective tenant has pets, what do you do?

Goldfish or Great Dane – does make a difference.

Some states allow you to add clauses and penalties specifcially relating to the leasing of a property to a tenant with pets.

Check your states 'tenancy acts' to see what applies in your state.

Some pets are not a problem and having them onboard too can be a good thing. Make sure you get before and after photos.

If the property is strata titled you will need to chekc your by-laws as there may be some rules applyign to pets in the complex.

Charge more rent (say $15-$20 per week) and get them to sign a pet clause, acknowledging they'll be liable for any damage the pet causes.  Also have on the clause that they have to steam clean the carpets and curtains every six months and show the property manager the receipts.  I've got someone renting a one-bedder from me that happily agreed to steam clean the carpets every six months in order to be able to keep a cat for company.  I did not increase the rent due to the cat moving in because the place is pretty dated and in the event the tenant moves out, I'd do a major renovation anyhow.  If the cat passes away, the tenant has to go and sign a new pet clause if he wants to get a new cat.  The clause is not transferrable. 

Be careful with your insurance – insurers don't tend to cover pet damage, so don't assume you'd be covered there.

A labrador is a pretty large animal so I suppose you're talking a fair bit of shedding of hair, and big muddy footprints on the carpet  if it is allowed to move freely between the backyard and carpeted zones.  If you have tiled floors, probably doesn't matter.  But I think they are a pretty placid breed so unlikely to chew the place to bits. 

Be careful when requiring you tenants to have anything steam cleaned professionally or otherwise as part of the lease agreement – you could land yourself in some hot water (no pun intended) with the state tenancy authority.

I'm not sure about every state but I know in SA the tenancies branch has advised that this is not an enforceable clause in a lease with regards to general cleaning – check with your state authority to be certain.

Pet = rent increase. All those little extra options are another $20 a week. Smoking = $20. Best to charge for everything.

I am a renter (by choice) and i am forever grateful that our landlord gave us the chance to keep our chocolate lab when we moved in. She initially had a no pets clause. I wrote a letter stating he was a much loved member of our family, well behaved, regularly walked and an 'outside only dog'. We would have been devastated if she had said no.  She gave us a chance, and i have since given our tennants the same chance.

I would definitely assess each application individually though. I'm not a cat lover and our council requires them them to be kept inside, which i don't like. But from my experience, people who care greatly for their pets, also care greatly for the house they live in. You just have to make sure you pick the right tennant !!