One of the more popular trends raising questions for Kingman rental property owners is whether or not to allow tenants to keep chickens. Keeping chickens has changed into a popular activity in recent years, even for urban neighborhoods. While the grounds for this popularity vary, multiple people do it with ideas such as producing their own food or keeping insect populations under control. Both of these factors are clear advantages of keeping chickens, but there are numerous issues you need to know as well. In that manner, you can more confidently decide what to say when your tenant asks to keep chickens on your rental property.
Zoning Issues
Not all municipalities are chicken-friendly. Even though some places allow residential neighborhoods to keep chickens in their yards, others do not. As a property owner, you must learn your local ordinances and discuss them properly with your tenant. Or else, they may not be aware of the need to follow local laws and keep illegal animals on the property, thus exposing both of you to the risk of fines and legal troubles.
Property Damage
At a minimum, most chickens will need a clean and secure chicken coop, as well as fencing and a run. If your rental property doesn’t already have a fence and a coop, your tenant will probably need to construct one. While some chicken coops can be very nice, there’s no guarantee that the one your tenant will build will be. Also, if your tenants decide to leave, and even if they take the coop with them, you’ll be leaving with dead and damaged landscaping where the coop used to be.
Biohazard Risk
Another hazard that chickens pose is that chicken droppings are a potential biohazard. Chicken poop is disgusting, smelly, and often gets tracked everywhere, including inside the house itself. Also, chicken droppings can carry diseases that can put the health of you and your tenants at risk.
Attract Rodents and Predators
Rodents and other pests are opportunistic feeders. As a result, they will be attracted to places where food is convenient and abundant. Rodents love chicken coops for this reason. The rodents will not just be magnetized to the chicken feed, but they may go after the chicken eggs or even the chickens themselves as well. The same is true for wild animals or even domesticated cats and dogs. If an owl, neighborhood stray, or even your neighbor’s beloved pet comes into your rental yard, the following massacre won’t be a wonderful thing.
Noise Issues
Another problem with keeping chickens is the noise. Chickens can be incredibly loud, even hens. Chickens generate a wide range of loud sounds that may bother a neighbor who is not far away. If your rental property’s yard isn’t big enough, those chirping birds could become a nuisance or, in some areas, even violate noise ordinances.
Despite a few instances of tenants successfully keeping chickens, the hazards aren’t worth it for most property owners. Undoubtedly, every situation and rental property is unique, so it is important to decide properly for you and your tenants.
Would you like assistance fielding tenant requests for animals, pets, or other things? Our Kingman property managers can assist! Contact Real Property Management Northern Arizona for more information on how we help rental property owners like you keep your tenants happy and protect your investment at once.
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