If you are like most tenants, you think about the day when you will obtain your security deposit back. Nonetheless, owning a pet while renting a home may reduce your chances of receiving a full refund. Even if your landlord might allow pets, it’s up to you to make sure your pet doesn’t damage the property. If you don’t take steps in advance to ensure that they are properly cared for and well-behaved, you could end up losing your deposit or even paying more for any damage caused by your pet. Fortunately, as a pet owner and a renter, there is a lot you can do to lessen the impact your pet will have on your rental property.
One of the proven techniques to protect both your pet and your Temple rental home is to make sure that your pet is clean and healthy. Regularly bathing and grooming your pet can help keep them comfortable and reduce unpleasant odors that can accumulate on furniture, walls, and carpeting. You should also take relevant steps to keep your pet free of fleas or other parasites, which can infest a home as well as harm your pet’s health. Preventing fleas is much easier than trying to remove them later, so it is worth the effort to be proactive about it.
One more very important way to protect your rental home from unwanted damage is to properly train and supervise your pet. Pets like cats and dogs need to be trained to practice using a litter box or a yard to eliminate waste. If such training does not happen, pets can urinate or worse inside the rental home, leading to severe damage to walls, floors, and even fixtures. Once carpeting has been urinated on, it is very hard to get completely clean again. In its place, make sure you give your pet an appropriate place to do their business.
If accidents do happen, enzyme products should be used to completely remove the smell of pet urine and to discourage your pet from going back to that same spot. Unwanted urination, chewing, and other behaviors are also the result of leaving a pet home alone for hours or even days at a time. Even pets left in the yard all day will dig holes, chew up sprinkler lines and plants, and cause other types of damage. There are several ways to keep your pet and your property safe while you are not around, from having someone oversee them during the day to crate training them (for dogs). As a tenant, it is vital to properly supervise your pet or risk losing your security deposit when you move out.
Lastly, to curtail the presence of your pet in your rental home, it is important to regularly clean up after them. Pet waste should be promptly and correctly disposed of, and pet beds, kennels, cages, or other areas cleaned frequently. Pets who live in dirty conditions can contract a wide range of diseases, many of which they can transfer to humans. Dirty pets, yards, and homes also tend to attract insects and unwanted pests, which pose further health risks and can cause further damage to the property.
Owning a pet is a big responsibility, but it doesn’t need to affect getting your security deposit back. By taking a few practical steps, you can guarantee that you, your pet, and your home are clean and properly cared for.
Are you looking for your next Temple rental home? Check out our available rentals and give us a call at 254-401-0400 for more information.
We are pledged to the letter and spirit of U.S. policy for the achievement of equal housing opportunity throughout the Nation. See Equal Housing Opportunity Statement for more information.
