It says “No Pets” right in the lease, but your tenant has a pet cat or dog.  This scenario plays out quite commonly in landlord/tenant relationships.  This can be a tough situation to deal with especially if they are good tenants or your local laws do not empower you to be able to evict on those grounds alone. The No Pets form is a good start to immediately set the right tone.  First, it informs your tenant that you are now aware of the likelihood that they are harboring pets.  Second, it is a reminder that this action is against the agreement they signed with you and/or rental property policy.  And finally, it sets you up for acting on this information where it’s in your power to do so. In Ontario, Canada, pets are thornier issue because while there are some provisions and extenuating circumstances where you can evict a tenant based on having a pet – for the most part the provincial law does not defend this right.  In this cases, a diplomatic and negotiated solution is what is recommended.  The wording here is strong but not harsh in hopes of reaching a mutual resolution.  We’ve been more successful with this approach than most other approaches.

Note: We highly recommend the Pet-Free declaration form as well