All Forum Posts by: Robert Williams

We’re pleased to share that the tenant paid rent on the 3rd, just before late fees would have applied. 

While we sympathized with their situation and wanted to help during the holiday season, we decided to stick with our policy of returning deposits only after move-out. Returning the pet deposit early would have required a home inspection during the holiday break, which would have been inconvenient for us. Additionally, there’s always a risk that any pet-related damages could be hidden under furniture or otherwise concealed, potentially leaving us to cover the costs if the security deposit is fully depleted by other expenses (e.g., damages or unpaid rent). By adhering to our standard procedures, we’re able to maintain consistency and fairness across all tenants, avoiding any perception of favoritism.

Thanks again for your feedback! It’s great to have a community to bounce ideas off of.

Thanks again for the feedback all!

For perspective, the rent is $2,500 and the pet deposit is $500. We also have a security deposit of one month’s rent. Typically, we steer away from pet deposits in preference of pet rent / fee. However, we are taking over from a PM to self-manage and are inheriting the current setup.

Our biggest concern is that this first communication from the tenant was a sob story asking for $500 back/off rent. This tells us that the tenant may be struggling financially and will have even more trouble paying the rent in the future. If the tenant is truly struggling due to a life event, the sooner we can work together to get her somewhere she can afford (and not have an eviction or negative credit report on record), the better for all. Hopefully, this will be a non-event. Either way, we’ll know in a week, and I’ll keep this forum updated.

Hello everyone,

Thank you all for taking the time to share your thoughts and advice regarding my tenant’s recent request. Your perspectives have been incredibly helpful as I navigated how to handle the situation.

Here’s how I just responded to the tenant:

I expressed sympathy for their situation and the loss of their pets. I explained that the pet deposit is held until the end of the lease to cover potential damages, so it cannot be reimbursed or credited toward rent at this time. However, I emphasized the importance of open communication and encouraged them to reach out proactively if they foresee any challenges with future rent payments. Additionally, I mentioned that I had sent them a small holiday gift card as a token of appreciation (which I send to all of my tenants) and wished their family a peaceful and warm holiday season.

Your insights helped me craft a response that balanced kindness with maintaining boundaries, and I truly appreciate it. I wish you all continued success in your real estate journeys and hope you have a wonderful holiday season.

Best regards,
Rob

Hi everyone,

I’m looking for advice on how to handle a recent request from one of my tenants. Here’s the situation (personal details removed):

The tenant reached out explaining that they’re going through financial difficulties due to an ongoing divorce and lack of child support. They had paid a pet deposit when they moved in, but both of their pets have sadly passed away. They’re now asking if the pet deposit can be refunded or credited toward their January rent to help them during the holidays.

The tenant was apologetic about making this request and acknowledged it might not be typical. However, I should note that this tenant has been late paying rent several times recently, which has added some strain to the landlord-tenant relationship.

How would you approach this situation? Would you consider refunding or crediting the pet deposit under these circumstances? Or would you stick to the lease terms and handle it differently?

Looking forward to hearing how others might navigate this.

Thanks in advance!

Rob