Tenant wants to move to larger unit with dogs

[Kelly N.]

Hi all,

I am wondering about keeping some apartments pet free, but in the same house where there are already dogs (previous landlord allowed)?

I have a triplex with two one bedroom units in it. One will be vacant in August, the tenant from the other one wants to move in since it is larger (543 sq ft vs 836). She has two small dogs and pays $10 extra per month per dog for them as per the lease with the previous landlord (we bought the house in April).

My problem is three fold- I'd rather avoid having dogs in the larger unit. When we looked at the house, her apartment stunk, but when I did the walk through before closing it seemed fine, so maybe one of the dogs had an accident and it wasn't typical. But if they are stinking up the place, I really don't want them moving into a nicer unit with newer carpet.

Second problem is the rent- she pays (with the $20 extra) only $25 less than the current tenants pay. I have been advertising different prices to try to fill the vacancy, and right now have it listed for less than she is paying, but the tenant would be paying gas so it'd work out about the same. I have no idea what she's seen for a price but would rather she pay more for the bigger unit obviously.

Third problem is the unit she is vacating will be harder to fill since it is smaller, so I'll have to take less rent there too.

Obviously, I will double check the current condition of her apartment before I let her move to the bigger unit. Any damages (ie nasty carpet) would come out of the security deposit, but if the carpets are that bad then she's no getting the other unit.

I'm fine with the extra $20 per month the previous landlord set up for the dogs, but also would rather have extra amount in the security deposit for cleaning up any pet issues. I usually charge a $300 pet cleaning deposit, so if I do that and not collect the extra per month we're talking a difference of $60.

So, thanks for reading all of that, what would you do? I only have one other prospect for the apartment at the moment, she is out of state but her friend looked at it for her today.

Kelly