Sublease Pet Addendum (CA)

Allowing pets in a sublease can be a difficult decision. You don't want to turn away potential subtenants by not allowing their pets, but you are still ultimately responsible to your landlord under your original lease or other agreement. First, confirm that pets are allowed under the existing lease with your landlord. Then, if you do allow pets in your sublease, it's important that you protect yourself and any other residents. A Sublease Pet Addendum allows you as a sublandlord to define, document, and change pet policies that apply to your subtenants. It will help ensure all the details of your pet policy are clear and well documented.

You can use this addendum whether you are executing a sublease, or where there is already a current sublease in place, but you need to add information on pets.

As a starting point, this legal document will define the amount, type, and size of the pets the subtenant is allowed to have. It will also state in writing that the subtenant will be responsible for the pet(s), require that they keep the pet(s) under control, that they do not make an excessive disturbance on the property, and that the pet owner is responsible for any property damage caused by their pet(s). If allowed in your state, you can also set a fee and/or deposit that the subtenant must pay.

While this Sublease Pet Addendum addresses requirements for service and emotional support animals, we suggest that if you want to impose any restrictions on those types of pets, you should review the special protections those pets and their owners are entitled to under the law.