2026 November InMaricopa Magazine

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But not every pet causes damage, just as a tenant without pets doesn’t guarantee a damage- free property. The solution isn’t necessarily to prohibit pets. It’s to manage the risks. Protect yourself without losing opportunities A well-designed pet policy can include screening, reasonable restrictions, clear lease provisions and permitted pet deposits or rent. Thorough move-in documentation and periodic inspections provide additional protection. One important detail: Assistance animals are not considered pets under fair housing rules. Requests for reasonable accommodations must be evaluated separately, and pet fees generally cannot be charged to qualified assistance animals. The decision that really matters Every rental property is different. Flooring, landscaping, HOA restrictions and market conditions should influence your decision on allowing pets. A fenced backyard or durable flooring, for example, may make a home especially suitable for tenants with pets. Clear expectations, thorough inspections and consistent enforcement can help protect the property while expanding the pool of qualified applicants. At Crest Premier Properties, we encourage owners to weigh the actual cost of vacancy against the potential risks of allowing pets. Before rejecting your next qualified applicant simply because they own a pet, ask yourself one question: Am I protecting my investment or paying for an empty house? A sound pet policy is ultimately a business decision. Sometimes protecting your investment means realizing you placed unnecessarily limits on its earning potential.

but you could also be missing out on a pool of potential tenants. The hidden cost of saying no According to Zillow’s 2025 Consumer Housing Trends Report, 59% of renter households have at least one pet, while 65% consider pet-friendly housing essential when choosing a rental. Think about that. Your no-pets policy could be eliminating qualified applicants before they even see your property. Zillow also found that pet-friendly rentals were typically leased eight days faster nationwide. In the Phoenix area, the difference was 11 days. Consider a home renting for $2,000 monthly. Just 30 additional days of vacancy means $2,000 in lost rental income. That’s a substantial price to pay to avoid damage that may never happen. But what about the damage? Your concerns are legitimate. Scratched doors, stained carpets, damaged landscaping and lingering odours can be expensive to repair.

Y OUR RENTAL PROPERTY HAS BEEN sitting vacant for weeks. The mortgage payment is due, insurance and HOA fees keep adding up, and every empty day costs you money. You’ve had inquiries, perhaps even from well-qualified applicants, but there’s just one catch: They have a pet. So, you turn them away. After all, you’re protecting your investment, right? Maybe, Is your no-pets policy costing you good tenants — and money BY SHERMAN AND EUPHEMIA WEEKES

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