Pet Fee/Deposit per pet and renewals?

Question

Questions:

Landlords that rent to pet owners.

1. Do you charge a pet fee per pet?

2. Do you collect this fee once, or with each renewal?

Thanks in advance....

Account Closed · Answer

Make sure you can do it where your rental is.  Non-refundable fees are not legal in CA.  Landlords do it, but if the tenant ever fights you over it, you'll have to deal with it.

If they're legal for you, people are willing to pay it.  They may try to sneak a pet in and not pay for it.

I'd ask for a hefty security deposit, too, for any pet owners - big enough to cover you in case they sneak more pets in.

I was advised to never call any deposit a pet deposit, because it can be an issue in court, where you have to separate out what damage gets deducted from which deposit, etc.  Best to just ask for a bigger security deposit that can be used for anything.

Also, just FYI, my daughter had a rental in CA, and she advertised it at a higher rent than market, but said she'd accept dogs 25 pounds or under.  It's really difficult to find rentals that will accept dogs where her rental was.  She had no trouble renting it for the higher rent, because of the demand for a rental that would accept dogs.

If you do that, you get the higher rent, without having to deal with pet fees.

Another friend of mine advertised her place saying she'd accept large breed dogs that aren't on any restricted breed list - same thing, her phone blew up because it's so hard to find a rental that will accept large breed dogs.

So, if it's hard for tenants in your area to find a place that will even accept pets, or accept large breed dogs, you could just up the rent and say you'll accept them, and see if you can't get it rented at the higher rent that way.

FWIW.

Account Closed · Answer

To clarify, it depends on the law where you live.  In CA, a separate fee for pets is not allowed.  So, in CA, the answer is:

1. No

2. No

Are pet fees allowed where you live?  If so, go for it.

Scott Weaner · Answer

To add-on to this thread, I have recently had tenant applicants with either lousy credit OR a large dog. Specifically, 2 potentials with a Mastiff. How do you feel about this? I am concerned to say the least.

Kelly N. · Answer

Hello,

I allow cats but not dogs.

I prefer to take a pet deposit, $300 and it is treated as additional security deposit.  Our security deposits are one month's rent and the maximum deposit allowed in Michigan is 1.5 the monthly rent, so recently I took a lower pet deposit so as not to exceed that- the rent on that apartment is $550 so the pet deposit was $275.

We have purchased 2 properties with pets in place, both were charging a monthly pet fee ($50 for two small dogs in one building, $30 for a dog and cat together in the other).  The problem I have with this is that the animals might have been living there for years before our purchase, and there is no additional deposit to cover the damages when they move out and we are the owners.  That being said, it doesn't really matter to the seller since it is no longer their problem...

I am keeping an eye on local landlord practices, it seems like there is a move towards collecting 1.5X rent in deposit now.  If we go that route, I might go back to the monthly fee or just charge a lump sum nonrefundable pet fee at the beginning of the lease instead.

Kelly

Matt Kieffer · Answer

Yes, always charge a pet fee.  I consider it as an addition to the deposit.

1. $300 per pet.  Only 2 pets allowed, so a total of $600.

2. I take it just at the beginning.

My pet deposit is fully refundable at the end of the lease if the property comes back clean as a whistle.  I believe this provides incentive to the tenant to control their pets.

I will usually do an inspection at the time that the tenant gives me a 30 day notice to vacate.  That way I can identify and spot things that need to be fix/replaced and tell the tenant to take care of these things prior to move out.  If they take care of them beforehand, that's less that the pet deposit may have to cover, and they are appreciative in getting more of their deposit back.

Also, here in AZ I am allowed to take 150% of a month's rent as a security deposit.  So I calculate my security deposit as 150% of rent minus the $600.  That way if I have a tenant that has 2 pets, I still abide by the law.

Aaron Montague · Answer

1. I'm with the "raise the rent" crew.  Adding a pet charge is dicey in VT, so I avoid it completely.

2. I can't keep a pet deposit beyond my standard security so I build it into the rent.  My leases say "no pets" so I have a reason to use the security deposit if I have to clean up after their pets.  I guess the answer to your question is "yes." :)

Elizabeth Colegrove · Answer

I actually wrote an entire article on this subject ;)

We offer either a one month refundable security deposit or $50 pet rent. As always it depends on your local law but we offer options and have done well allowing pets

Rick Bassett · Answer

We charge $300 for a PET Cleaning Fee for up to 2 small pre-approved animals and $20 additional rent per pet per month. We use the Pet Cleaning Fee to hire a cleaning service to do a 'top down' on the house after they move out. We explain it in a way that they understand "not everyone are pet lovers and appreciate the smell of pets in their newly rented home, so we have to get that smell out before the new tenant moves in".

Some people complain, generally those prospective tenants that wouldn't be accepted anyway, but the serious pet lovers have no issue with this policy as they understand that most LL's aren't pet friendly and their rental options are limited.

Randy E. · Answer

1) Yes.  I charge a non-refundable pet fee of about $300-$400.  I can't remember the exact amount at the moment.  I also charge an additional $25/month pet rent per pet.

2) I charged the non-refundable fee only once during an entire tenancy.  The extra $25/month pet rent remains in place for as long as the tenant and pet(s) remain in my property.

Pet Fee/Deposit per pet and renewals?

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