If you, like the vast majority of renters, probably look forward to the day when you will get your security deposit back. Having a pet while renting a home may make it more difficult to get a full refund. Even if your Orlando property manager might allow pets, it’s up to you to guarantee 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. The good news is that as a pet owner and a renter, there is a lot you can do to minimize the impact your pet will have on your rental property.
Keep Your Pet Clean and Healthy
One of the very excellent approaches to protect your pet and your Orlando rental home is to make sure that your pet is clean and healthy. Consistently bathing and grooming your pet can hopefully maintain and keep them comfortable and reduce uncomfortable odors that can accumulate on furniture, walls, and carpeting. You ought to also consider taking appropriate steps to keep your pet free of fleas or other parasites, which can infest a home and harm your pet’s health. Preventing fleas is much easier than removing them later, so it is worth the effort to be proactive about it.
Train and Supervise Your Pet
Another important way to protect your rental home from unwanted damage is to train and supervise your pet properly. Pets like cats and dogs need to be trained to use a litter box or a yard to eliminate waste. If such training does not occur, 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 incredibly difficult to completely clean again. Instead, make sure you give your pet an appropriate place to do their business.
If accidents happen, enzyme products should be used to remove the smell of pet urine and discourage your pet from returning to that same spot. Unwanted urination, chewing, and other behaviors result from leaving a pet home alone for hours or even days at a time. Even pets left in the yard all day will dig holes, and chew up sprinkler lines and plants, which could result in further forms of injury. There are several possible routes to keep your pet and your property safe while you are gone, from having someone check on them during the day to crate training them (for dogs). As a tenant, it is important to properly supervise your pet or risk losing your security deposit when you move out.
Clean Up After Your Pet (the Right Way)
Ultimately, to minimize your pet’s presence in your rental home, cleaning up after them regularly (and immediately) is essential. Pet waste should be promptly and correctly disposed of, and pet beds, kennels, cages, or other areas should be cleaned regularly. Pets living in dirty conditions can contract a wide range of diseases, many of which can pass to humans. Messy pets, yards, and homes also tend to be a magnet for insects and unwanted pests, which pose further health risks and can cause more damage to the property.
When you move out, it’s even more important to completely deep-clean the property and assess any damage your pet may have caused. If you can make small repairs yourself, that can help a lot. For instance, fill in any holes dug in the yard, clean up pet waste outside and inside, and properly wipe down all walls, baseboards, floors, and other areas the pet had access to. If your pet caused damage you can’t fix, don’t try to hide it! It’s best to document the property’s condition and report it to your landlord if a dispute arises.
Owning a pet is a big responsibility, but it doesn’t need to interfere with getting your security deposit back. Taking a few proactive steps ensures that you, your pet, and your home are clean and properly cared for.
Are you looking for your next Orlando rental home? Check out our available rentals or call us at 407-681-7802 for more information.
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