The rental apartment’s renovation cost 4,800 euros after the tenant’s pet used the floor as a toilet

Usually, fears are exaggerated, and there is no real reason to be afraid of a tenant with a pet. However, in the worst-case scenario, the property may need major repairs after the tenant moves out.

Rendin's lawyer, Gerda Esko, shares a story like this and explains how to ease worries about pets.

Long-time landlord Karin* (name changed) signed a termless rental agreement with a polite young couple, and their rental relationship was smooth and trouble-free — until the end of the lease. When Karin went to inspect the apartment before ending the agreement, she was hit with a strong smell of cat urine.

Upon handing over the apartment, the tenant admitted that the cat had peed on the floor and scratched up the bathroom shower curtain and agreed to cover the costs. To make matters worse, Karin had known that the tenants were moving in with a small dog, but there had been no mention of cats, which were not allowed in the rental.

“We provided the landlord with advice on how to handle the situation and prepare a damage claim. Since the tenant agreed to cover the costs, we advised the landlord to send the claims and invoices directly to the tenant and set a reasonable deadline for payment. Unfortunately, the tenant did not respond to these letters,” explains Rendin’s lawyer, Gerda Esko.

Upon closer inspection, Karin discovered that the hallway carpet in the rental apartment was completely soaked with cat urine and smelled terrible. Additionally, the cat had urinated on the bathroom parquet, causing it to swell up significantly.

To remove the odor, Karin threw out the hallway carpet and cleaned all the remaining carpets and curtains in the apartment. She also hired a cleaning company for a deep clean, but the smell remained even after using special chemicals.

Next, Karin arranged for an ozone treatment in the hope that the ozone gas would eliminate the odor. Unfortunately, they too were unable to remove the cat urine smell, and a few days later, the odor returned. “The ozone treatment provider said that if the urine has soaked under the parquet, the ozone gas won’t help, and the floor will likely need to be replaced,” explains the landlord.

“Replacing the floor is an expensive and time-consuming process and was a last resort in this situation. Therefore, we advised the landlord to try once more to clean the floors with a special urine odor removal chemical. We also suggested getting written statements from third parties to prove the odor problem,” says Gerda Esko.

Unfortunately, neither the deep cleaning, ozone treatment, nor chemicals helped, so Karin decided to remove the bathroom parquet. It was visibly clear in several places where the cat had urinated, and since the urine had soaked into the subfloor, that needed to be removed as well.

Karin then removed the baseboards in other rooms and found that the cat had also urinated on the kitchen, living room, and hallway floors. The only solution was to replace all the parquet flooring in the apartment. The tenant had also damaged some walls and ceilings, which needed to be repaired and repainted.

“We advised the landlord to get quotes from different construction companies and give them to the tenant. Since the tenant hadn’t responded to previous letters, we suggested setting a deadline for the tenant to respond or make their own proposals. If the tenant didn’t respond by the deadline, the landlord should choose a service provider themselves,” says Rendin’s lawyer.

"After reviewing all the details, we found that the total cost for cleaning and repairs was €4,800. Since the tenant didn’t respond to the final damage claim, we covered the costs ourselves and issued a claim against the tenant, allowing them to pay the debt through a payment plan,” explains Esko.

“It took about two months to resolve the situation and get the apartment back in rental condition. Thanks to Rendin’s support, the landlord was able to handle this difficult situation without significant financial loss,” she adds.

“If the landlord had not used Rendin, they would likely have had to cover the repair costs themselves. Since the tenant didn’t respond to any letters after the lease ended, the only option for the landlord would have been to take the tenant to a rental committee or court, which could be a long, stressful, and costly process,” says Rendin’s lawyer.

Many landlords believe that pets always cause damage and leave the rental property in ruins. While the previous story confirmed this, in reality, most pet owners are responsible and take good care of both their pets and the rental property.

Here are some tips for reducing risks:

1. Get to know the tenant's pet

Landlords often refuse pets without much consideration. To ease concerns, landlords could ask the tenant for a description of their pet’s breed and temperament, or request a recommendation from a previous landlord.

It might turn out that the tenant's pet is a well-behaved dog, a calm senior cat, or a caged hamster that won’t cause any problems.

2. Set special conditions in the rental agreement

If a landlord decides to rent to a tenant with a pet, the rental agreement should clearly state that the tenant is fully responsible for their pet’s actions and any damages caused. This ensures that both the landlord and tenant understand their rights and responsibilities.

Also, outline expectations for the final cleaning. By law, the rental property must be returned in the same condition as when it was handed over. For properties with pets, parties might agree that, in addition to regular cleaning, extra steps like ozone treatment or deep cleaning of soft furniture will be required before the property is returned.

3. Document the condition of the rental property with a handover protocol

A handover protocol provides both parties with the necessary evidence base, making it easier to resolve any misunderstandings and claims later.

A properly prepared handover protocol details the condition of the rental property at the time of the tenant’s move-in and move-out, including the condition of the property, any existing defects, and recent meter readings. It should also include newly taken photos that reflect the current state of the premises and show the condition of valuable property and appliances.

If the protocol is too general or missing altogether, it is nearly impossible to prove later whether scratches found on the floor or furniture were present before or occurred due to the tenant’s and their pet’s activities.

4. Use rental agreement protection

If the landlord is still unsure about allowing pets, it is worth considering signing the rental agreement through Rendin to reduce risks. Rendin offers property protection up to ten times the monthly rent amount, meaning that the furniture, appliances, and interior finishes in the rental property are protected against damage caused by the tenant.

If the rental agreement is signed outside of Rendin, the parties can agree on a higher security deposit if desired. In either case, it is recommended that the tenant also obtain additional pet owner liability insurance to increase their sense of security.