Pet Fee vs. Pet Deposit

[Daryl L.]

I'm in a unique position where I'm a landlord and a tenant due to my job which has me travel for long-term projects. I have 3 rentals and I grew up in a rental family (father owns 30+ from single-residence, to efficiencies, to commercial) so I understand the pains that come with all of that. I'm fairly new to renting (only been doing it really for the past 2-3 years for work) and something I often run into is Pet Fees.  I have a 150lb Great Pyrenees/Mastiff mix who travels everywhere with me so when I find a place it has to be pet friendly. In all of my rentals I ask to meet the animal and evaluate on a case-by-case basis if I have any reservations and I charge a refundable pet deposit (if the animal doesn't cause any extra damage, I don't keep the deposit).

My question is do you charge a non-refundable fee or a refundable deposit, and why?

[Anna Sagatelova]

Originally posted by @Austin Mountain:

@Daryl L. kid damage far outweighs pet damage.  I'd take a young couple with two dogs over a family with two kids.  You can charge extra for the dogs, they cause less damage and your tenants are more likely to stay longer.  Everyone wins.

 Except you can't discriminate against familial status/kids.

Agreed that kids do cause more wear and tear and damage to a property, but a protected class is a protected class.