Pets and Your Myrtle Beach Rental Property

Should you allow pets in your Myrtle Beach annual rental property? 

If a Tenant has a service or emotional support animal, the South Carolina State property law states that a Landlord must allow a registered emotional or support animal to live with its owner in the property.  Service animals and emotional support animals are protected under the Fair Housing Law. 

Beyond the law, if you choose to allow family pets in your annual rental property, you will have a higher number of prospects interested in renting your property.  Conversely, if you say “no pets” in your rental listing, then the number of interested rental prospects decreases to 30% of the people looking for rental property.  Family pets are a significant percentage of the family dynamic today.  Real Living Home Realty Group – Property Management requires Tenants to pay a pet deposit of $500 per pet before a lease is signed.  If they are emotional support or service animals, the Tenant prospect must show us written proof from a recognized agency that the animal is a registered service animal. 

When the Tenant vacates the home, our lease requires that the unit must be professionally cleaned, and pet decontamination procedures completed before the security deposit is released.  In my experience, I have found that by allowing family pets in your annual rental, you attract Tenants that respect your property because you respect their lifestyle.  Limiting the right number, size, and types of pets are the strategic keys to renting your property to Tenants with appropriate pet lifestyles. 

We believe the best practice is to limit no more than two pets per unit, and the weight of pets will depend on the type of flooring you have in the property.  If the house flooring is a scratch-resistant surface, the pet weight is not as much of surface wear and tear concern.  Allowing pets in your annual rental is typically a strategy that also encourages longer Tenant tenure.  Tenants are more likely to renew the lease because once a family and their pets are comfortable, it is harder for them to relocate. 

We hope this helps you in your decision process to qualify how to manage your annual rental property and pet requirements. Click the link below for more information on service and emotional support animals.

https://www.hud.gov/sites/dfiles/PA/documents/HUDAsstAnimalNC1-28-2020.pdf