It happens time and time again, and the reasons given are common: “I didn’t know.” Or: “Nobody told me I couldn’t do this.”  

Residents will often move into a community without a pet, but they may adopt one or have a friend or relative visit with a pet unbeknownst to the property manager. Some may even start a pet-sitting business in their living rooms. On most occasions, residents do not notify the community of these new pet-related developments. Naturally, this creates a risk for the community, especially if those pets have a history of barking, running off leash or even violent behavior. 

Fortunately, this is a preventable scenario. A slight modification to the pet-application process,  requiring all residents, pet owners or not, to sign an electronic pet policy can eliminate the gray area, their excuses and hold residents accountable for any newfound pet activity.

The practice is becoming more prevalent in the multifamily industry, often through the use of a third-party pet screening solution, and the benefits of having all new residents sign-off on a community’s pet policy are numerous. 

Transparency
Whether a resident has pets or not at the initial time of move-in,  they need to understand and acknowledge the pet-related guidelines at the community. Not only should they know what is expected of them, but they’ll also be aware of the policies other pet-owning residents have committed to within the community. Better yet, there will be no ambiguity surrounding a resident’s obligation that he/she must report and seek advanced permission regarding any new pet-related additions to their apartment home.

Liability
When a resident decides to watch another person’s pet, and the pet unexpectedly attacks another animal or person in the community, the odds are the victim will file a claim against the community. But if each resident signs a pet policy upon first moving in, the property manager will have a documented formal record that the resident understands that all pets under their watch are to be authorized by their property manager in advance, and that they are responsible for the actions of the pets under their care. Ensuring the resident is on the record at the beginning of the leasing process could protect the community against costly liability for an unauthorized pet. 

Standardization
Non-pet owners considering living at an apartment community might initially balk at the requirement of agreeing to a pet policy because they incorrectly assume that the policy doesn’t apply to them. But if the pet policy documentation is seamlessly integrated into the digital application process and merely asks him/her to acknowledge pet-related policies, such as no pet sitting/visiting, then this can easily become a streamlined and standardized part of the application process for every applicant – regardless of pet-status. 

When any resident moves into a pet-friendly community, it’s important that they understand the community has established pet policies that apply to all residents. Making the pet policy available up front and easy to acknowledge through a standardized application process shows that the property manager is considerate of every resident with and without pets, and — perhaps most valuably — provides an added layer of liability protection for the community.