So, you’ve decided to allow your tenants to keep pets in their apartment. As a landlord, you want to make sure you have a clear and comprehensive agreement in place to protect both your property and your renters. The California Apartment Association’s Pet Addendum is the perfect solution to help you achieve this.

The CAA Pet Addendum is a comprehensive and legally compliant document designed to address various aspects of pet ownership in rental properties. Here are just a few key features of the Pet Addendum:

Written consent: The addendum ensures that tenants must obtain the landlord’s prior written consent before keeping a pet on the premises. This helps maintain control over the type and number of pets allowed.

Pet information: The addendum requires tenants to provide detailed information about their pet, including its type, breed, name, sex, age, size, and a photograph or description. This allows landlords to keep accurate records and monitor compliance with the agreement.

Compliance with laws: Tenants must agree to comply with all applicable ordinances, regulations, and laws pertaining to their pet, ensuring responsible pet ownership.

Spaying and neutering: Landlords have the option to require pets to be spayed or neutered, which can help control pet populations and prevent unwanted behavior.

Proper waste disposal: The addendum outlines specific guidelines for waste disposal and litter box maintenance, ensuring a clean and hygienic living environment for all residents.

With the California Apartment Association’s Pet Addendum, landlords can confidently and responsibly accommodate pet-loving tenants while protecting their property and maintaining a harmonious community. Adopting this comprehensive pet policy is a smart choice for any landlord seeking to create a pet-friendly rental environment.

CAA has 90 addenda available on its website, counting documents in various languages. But which do you need for your specific property and situation? It’s actually among the most asked questions on CAA’s Helpline. 

On April 19, 2023, CAA will present a webinar that breaks down the questions property owners and managers have to ask to determine the addenda they need, and what CAA addenda should (or should not) be used based on the answers to those questions.