Most people here want a yard, pets, garage, etc.  

@Christine Swaidan couple of questions; did they have the pet illegally, did you have a pet deposit or pet fee, do you have an automatic carpet cleaning fee in your lease?

I would only take the yard size into consideration if I plan on allowing my tenants to have pets. 

I am currently living in a hotel with my family and two pets.

Also we were there in November and we found a dog (a pit bull no less) and she hadn't informed us or paid the pet deposit and we found evidence of an adult male living there but otherwise the house was still clean.

Need to take care of your kids / spouse/ parents / pets , or you just feel like doing nothing all day ?

I live in a townhouse and after months of sending complaints to the HOA Board about pet owners (including board-members) violating the rules by permitting their pet to poop on the common areas and in front of my window I finely received a reply stating that that is fine as long as they pick up after their pets afterwords.

It should also cover things like pets, smoking, parking, trash, additional tenants, subletting, etc.What your lease cannot have in it are clauses that are illegal and unenforceable.

Am I allowed to alter things, such as charging for use of Laundry, splitting water, charging for pets, and things of that ilk?

Security deposit plus move-in fees cannot exceed the amount of the first full month’s rentNon-refundable move-in fees are limited to only tenant screening reports, criminal background checks, credit reports, and cleaning fees.Total non-refundable move-in fees are limited to 10% of the first full month’s rentPayment Plans Required –Landlords must allow an installment plan to pay a security deposit, a pet deposit, move-in fees, and last month’s rent.