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Hi everyone,
My tenant just sent me a letter from his doctor stating that he needs an emotional support animal. It seems that California laws require landlords to facilitate this. Currently the floor is made of real hard wood planks and is varnished.
What do I need to tell the tenant to do in order to maintain that varnished floor? This is a 60 lbs Siberian Husky so it's big and heavy. I don't know what age it is to tell how hyper the dog is.
At the minimum, what I can think of is (other than asking for the license, vaccine docs):
1) NOW: On top of the existing varnish layer, apply a layer of polyurethane for entire wood floor. The thing is polyurethane only protects from urine stains and surface scuff. If you guys know a better method, please let me know.
2) Ask the tenant to train his dog not to have a habit of scratching the floor with his nails. This is the only long term solution. Also have the nails regularly trimmed.
3) Before moving out: Repair all the scratches if any to avoid being deducting the security deposit. (I don't know if this is a given and I should not ask for it).
Doesn’t matter if it’s a support animal- it’s still a domesticated animal/pet.
The deposit should be in an amount that would cover refinishing floors/replacing carpet.
There was no pet deposit at the time the lease was signed a year ago. Now it's month to month.
Regardless what's in the lease agreement, I need to ask the tenant (and it seems he would do it just to have the dog in the house) what to do to protect the floor before it's too late. That's the reason I post the question.
A real hardwood floor shouldn't be that easy to scratch. I've seen laminate floors scratched up from dog traffic, but not wood. It may not be as bad as you think.
A real hardwood floor shouldn't be that easy to scratch. I've seen laminate floors scratched up from dog traffic, but not wood. It may not be as bad as you think.
You see Kim's post above: this breed is playful and needs a lot of exercise.
The wood floors should be covered as much as possible with area rugs/runners to protect both the flooring and the dog from slipping and sliding. Dogs do have problems with their nails on hardwood floors.
First, bring the tenant up to speed re: potential floor damage from pets/ESAs regardless what label they give the animal. If you haven't taken photos to document the condition of the floor before now, do it. I would make sure the tenant clearly understands (check the current language in the lease/rental agreement and update as necessary) that if their animal damages the floors they can lose their deposit and could be liable for more $ if the deposit doesn't cover the cost of repairs. Then, offer suggestions how to avoid the damage:
A dog that is exercised adequately outdoors will help a lot. Keeping the dog's claws properly trimmed will help a lot. But of course, if the owner can't be counted on to manage their dog properly those things won't help. Lots of rugs/runners will help. There are booties the dog could wear indoors. There are also glue on covers for the dog's claws. I have no idea how well they work.
You can not charge any pet deposit or any other kind of deposit for an emotional support animal.
Go over and carefully document the condition of the flooring. Make sure that the tenant understands that they will have to pay to repair any damage to the floors. Often tenants think that damage from support animals can't be charged for. Make the tenant sign something that states the condition of the floors and that he understands that he will pay for damage to the floors. Take lots of photos.
Recommend that the tenant keep the dog nails clipped short (you can't force him to do this). Recommend that the tenant buy the rubber caps for the dog's nails (you can't force him to do this). Recommend that the tenant buy area rugs to cover the wood floors (you can't force him to do this),
You can't stop the tenant from getting the dog. Make your insurance company put it in writing that the dog is covered for liability because huskies are on the dangerous dog list for most insurance companies.
Your only protection is to document the condition of the floors and to make sure the tenant understands he will be paying for damage.
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