Cats and Property Value

Started by LeeS6 • 7 replies • 1820 views

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LeeS6 (Minnesota)
Posts: 7

Posted:

Our condominium has a no pets policy. Several residents have requested that we look into allowing cats (indoor only, required to stay within the walls of the condo).

While the rule means nothing to me (because of alergies) I am looking for data that might shine some light on the issue of cats and property value. Would allowing cats increase or decrease the property value of our condos?

DonnaS (Tennessee)
Posts: 5,671

Posted:

Lee,
Property values have nothing to do with what is within any unit (unless you are growing a marajuana farm). Indoor pets are not visable to the public so it should not be an issue on your property value. I think that would be a real stretch of a factor on values.

MoM1 (Massachusetts)
Posts: 56

Posted:

Property values are determined by one thing--what ready, willing, and able buyers are ready, willing, and able to pay. As a cat owner myself, I have gone to condo open houses and the first question I ask the realtor is "What is the pet policy here?" If the reply is "no pets" or "at the discretion of the board" I turn and walk out the door. I am a cash buyer. Would the seller have gotten a higher price with a firm pro-pet policy? I'm inclined to think so.

JanetB2 (Colorado)
Posts: 4,219

Posted:

I feel allowing pets would potentially only affect an individual unit with regards to whether or not a buyer can purchase, maybe due to allergies. Overall policies for an association on the other hand can potentially reduce the majority of interested buyers throughout the HOA. If no pets at all are allowed, then you have a certain amount of buyers out looking to purchase who will not buy within the community. I also am a pet owner, so if I lived in your area your community would be one less for me to have on my list to consider buying.

MelissaP1 (Alabama)
Posts: 13,836

Posted:

Our local Humane society requires if you adopt a cat from them that it is kept indoors at ALL times. They believe that cats should be indoor only pets. Another city close by has an actual leash/cage law on cats. So there are animal control laws out there in existence regarding pet ownership. It's really the violation of those existing laws that cause the most issues.

I don't see a problem with owner's having animals dedicated as indoor only animals as long as they are taken care of. It shouldn't effect home values. A no pet policy may already do that for turning away potential owners. Check your local animal control laws to see what they have in place.

Former HOA President

GlenL (Ohio)
Posts: 5,491

Posted:

The important part of the equation is responsible pet owner, not everyone is. We had an owner who allowed her cats to urinate on the carpet without cleaning up after them (only two) but in a short time the whole building smelled of urine. Fortunately our CC&R's allowed the Board to declare them a nuisance and order them removed from the property. So if you make the changes to allow cats, make sure provisions are in place to protect all owners from the irresponsible pet owners, limit the number and no breeding for profit.

Studies show that 5 out of 4 people have problems with fractions

LeeS6 (Minnesota)
Posts: 7

Posted:

Thanks for all of these answers!

JenniferM9 (California)
Posts: 42

Posted:

Our complex has always allowed cats, with a maximum of two, which can be indoor or outdoor. Allowing cats has never been an issue with resale value of units, but then again, our complex is in a desirable neighborhood.

That being said, we have had people move in and complain about cats outside, so we amended our CC&R's to allow for making a cat stay inside if at least 3 people say the cat is a nuisance.

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