8+ Sample Pet Addendum to a Lease Agreement

Pet Addendum to a Lease Agreement: What is It?

A Lease Agreement is an implied or written agreement setting the terms and conditions under which a lessor agrees to rent a property to a lessee. 

A Pet Addendum is a clause in a lease agreement that allows a Landlord to establish, disclose, and amend their pet policy. A Pet Addendum will help ensure that all the terms of the pet policy are apparent and carefully documented, whether you’re a Landlord leasing a property or a prospective Tenant with a family pet. The Pet Care Agreement confirms that both parties have come to an understanding of how to handle the presence of pets within the property.

When Is a Pet Lease Addendum Necessary?

When updating an existing Lease Contract or Rental Agreement, people frequently want a change for a pet agreement. Both the Landlord and the Tenant may have consented to a no-pet policy at one time, but both parties have changed their minds in the long run. The pet agreement form is able to document this change and officially state the different rights and responsibilities of having a pet within the premises of the property. To verify that you are allowed to adopt or take an animal home, several animal shelters require a pet addendum or written note from the Landlord.

How to write a Pet Addendum to a Lease Agreement?

Now that the lease pet addendum has been explained to you, it is time to show you the manner and steps in writing the rest of the contents. Again, you don’t have to stress over the format and flow of the document because this article shows you pet addendum examples which you can freely choose which one to use as a foundation for your own pet addendum.

Step 1: State the Basic Information

A basic pet addendum should be able to state the identities of both parties; the names of the Tenant and the Landlord. Along with their contact information and of course, the most important detail being the address of the property that is being discussed or used in the Apartment Lease Contract.

Step 2: Input Pet Information

The second to follow would have to be the number of pets that the Tenant is proposing to move in the property with them. As well as the pet’s given name, the animal type either it would be a canine or a feline, the respective breed of the pet, their age, and gender. Although not necessary, the Tenant can opt to put the details of the Veterinary office of which has the records of their pet. This is to validate that the pet has up-to-date vaccines and is healthy to move in.

Step 3: List out Terms

This step will usually be laid out by the Landlord in clarifying the conditions that the Tenant should follow in order to be permitted to having their pet within the Condominium Rental Agreements that are being leased. Of course, as the Tenant, they are free to share their thoughts about the matter and can suggest compromises if the details are not suitable to their accommodations. Usually, the part where the two parties exchange information to come to an agreement.

Step 4: Additional Pet Fees

Although some Landlords may not require a pet fee or deposit so this step would not be applicable to all. But to those who are planning to require it, the main difference is that the pet fee is a non-refundable application charge for adding a pet to your household while the pet rent is the additional monthly rent charged to a tenant who owns a pet.

There is also a pet security deposit which is a refundable deposit that is refunded to the Tenant if the pet does not cause any damage that is not caused by regular wear and tear or is not covered by a Maintenance Report. Although Landlords are not able to charge pet deposits for Tenants who require a service animal.

Step 5: Signature

As a legally binding document, both parties that have settled and agreed on the details that they have listed above, should sign and acknowledge their agreement. The purpose of a signature is to authenticate a document or convey notice of its source, as well as to obligate the person signing it to the document’s provisions. A Waiver Agreement plays a similar role in signifying both parties are legally involved.

Additional Landlord Pet Addendum

In addition to the basic pet addendum, a Landlord may include the following clauses in the pet addendum in addition to their Rental Lease Agreement:

Authorization: An authorization clause, often known as limited authorization, states that each pet will be evaluated individually. If all regulations are not followed, the landlord has the authority to deny any pet, and the tenant’s permission to have a pet may be withdrawn.Restriction: A pet addendum’s restrictions clause specifies the types of pets that are permitted. The limited pet weight, forbidden animals such as venomous snakes, and breeds such as pit bulls are all examples of pet restrictions. This is all up to the Landlord and how much they are restricting the pet addendum residential tenancy agreement.Liability: The Tenant’s liability for damages is not limited to the amount of the security deposit, according to a liability clause in a pet addendum. A Landlord may also require the tenant to get pet liability insurance, which can be readily added to a renters insurance policy.Training: A pet addendum’s training provision should state that the pet is disciplined, above a particular age to prevent the Landlord’s property from being used as a puppy training ground, some visible proof of professional obedience training, that the pet is kept well-groomed, and that the pet is fed and watered only in a certain location.Expectations: A pet addendum expectations clause sets out the regulations and additional requirements that renters must agree to if they want to have a pet. Pet waste will be quickly cleaned up, the pet will be adequately fed and hydrated, the pet will be supervised at all times, and the tenant will comply with any local pet regulations.Violation Fee: The first-time charge for a tenant who violates the terms and conditions of a pet addendum should be high enough to avoid future violations, but not so high that the fee is higher than the usual rent fee. A pet addendum violation cost might vary from $100 (Php 5,029.50) to $300 (Php 15,088.50), depending on how the Landlord values their property or how extensive the damage is.Removal: A landlord should also prepare for the worst by adding a clause in the pet addendum permitting the pet’s removal. Animal neglect or abuse, as well as repeated breaches of the pet addendum terms and conditions, are all possible reasons to remove the Tenant’s pet from the premises of the property.

How to Be a Responsible Pet Owner

No one wants a pet parent to be separated from their pets nor would the pet appreciate that as well. If you are the Tenant, here are tips on how to keep your pet healthy while also keeping your landlord pleased.  Remember that as a pet-owning tenant, it is your responsibility to ensure that your pet is a welcome addition to your apartment complex. You may not only have to search for a new apartment if you allow your pet to breach property laws, destroy property, or make others uncomfortable, but you may also risk the chances of other pet owners settling in.

Keeping your cat from clawing your furniture: Declawing isn’t the answer for scratching problems since cats do indeed need their claws for protection and everyday use. Getting a scratch post or tower can be an area for them to release that need to scratch furniture or keep them entertained.Problems with the litter box can be avoided: Cats can be teased as neat-freaks, they won’t leave their poop out in the open. So make sure to have a litter box ready for them to use. And to always clean it so they won’t walk around the floor with dusty poopy paws.Keeping your cat entertained indoors: Provide your cat with enough physical and mental exercise for them to exhaust over even if it is indoors.
How to stop your dog from barking: Discipling your dog is not easy, you have to start them young at an appropriate age where they can handle their attention span enough to listen to your commands. Although you shouldn’t really punish your dohs from barking excessively, you can train them to lessen it.Stop your dog from gnawing on things he shouldn’t: Don’t forget that dogs can also teether like babies, so purchasing toys and bones that they can bite down is a good choice. This also keeps their gums strong and even keeps them entertained.Prevent separation anxiety in your dog: Puppies are clingy animals, if they are overly attached to you, they may look for you every time. Putting boundaries and training them to be interdependent is not a bad thing to start at a young age.Avoid your dog from leaping up on people: This can be part of their training as well that they should not bother guests, much more with strangers. Especially to those who don’t appreciate having dogs of any sizes jump unto them.

FAQs

In a lease agreement, what qualifies as a pet?

Pets are often defined merely as dogs or cats; some Landlords may not consider additional animals to be permitted. If there are two pets, their combined weight must not surpass a specific limit that the Landlord could establish. Fishbowls may or may not be permitted, but tenants should notify Landlords if they are planning on owning a larger fish tank or an aquarium. Depending on the place of residency, a bird may be considered a household pet but make sure to verify with the Landlord if they permit it.

What if tenants don’t inform the landlord of a pet?

If a renter is discovered bringing a pet into the apartment, the landlord may be able to evict them. The landlord may sue you for the balance of your lease payment if they are evicted. Any prospective landlords who find out about your eviction history may find it difficult to rent to you again.

How will a pet addendum lease benefit a Landlord?

The Landlord wouldn’t have to look for a new renter which can considerably take a lot of time and effort in interviewing them or having them check the recently vacant space. They wouldn’t have to replace any furniture or appliance that has been damaged by the tenant’s untrained pet. Avoid facing a lawsuit from an injured neighbor if the tenant possessed a dangerous breed of pet. And save a lot of effort and money evicting the renter.

How will a pet addendum form benefit a Tenant?

The Tenant wouldn’t have to look for a new rental. They can save up or claim their security deposit if their pet avoids causing harm. Avoid the danger of being sued by a neighbor who has been hurt by an unruly pet. Wouldn’t have to give their pet up for adoption or animal control.

Settling a pet addendum contract is not a tedious thing to do if both parties are seeing eye-to-eye on the agreements that they need to settle. All of the above-stated issues can be avoided if a pet addendum had been included in the contract from the start, thus an Addendum to Contract wouldn’t be such a bad inclusion for the lease agreement. So what are you waiting for? Fuel that excitement because as a tenant, you might be welcoming a new member of the family soon. And as a Landlord, time to prepare those terms and be ready for a new furry companion in the neighborhood.