A rental/landlord question re: pets

[eileen from OH]

We have a rental property and have never allowed pets after our first tenants who had everything short of live chickens.

However, we're probably gonna bend the rules this time for some prospective tenants who have one cat. We want to get an extra "pet deposit" but don't know how much this should be.

A percentage of the rent or just a flat amount?

Do you include an addendum onto the lease or what?

Any ideas would be gratefully appreciated.

eileen from OH

[LynneSin]

1. First check your state laws

I never realized that some states (including Delaware) do not allow surcharges for pets but instead for an extra security deposit. I found this out after my apartment charged me extra monthly for a pet. I was slightly miffed but greateful I didn't have to come up with an extra security deposit at the time. The made it up to me by allowing me the second cat and when rental increase time came around my rent stayed the same.

Definately have it in writen in the lease what the owner can & cannot do with the pet especially with owning additional pets. I would also toss in a clause that would require the owner to have the carpets cleaned before they move out. That was added to my lease.

[Seabiscuit]

9. This is the only correct response. Different states have different laws

on the subject. No guessing should be indulged in at all. For one, if you get it wrong it could legally void the entire "pets limitation" clause in your lease and allow the tenants to legally house as many pets as they want with no penalty whatsoever.

[GOPisEvil]

2. I would price having the carpets professionally cleaned.

And charge that amount. :shrug:

Include EVERYTHING in the lease. I would also include that you are permitting ONE cat, and one cat only.

[vptpt]

3. I've lived in a lot of apartments

Usually it's been an extra $100 or so as a non-refundable deposit. The apartment I'm in now only charged $50. One place I lived charged an extra $10 a month. Pet deposits are less in apartments with hardwood floors instead of carpet. So there's an outline of my history with pet deposits!

[radwriter0555]

4. You can add an addendum specificying ONE cat only, and ask for an

additional $500.

"tenants are permitted to keep one cat only, confined specifically to the apartment unit and not allowed to be at large in common areas or without supervision out of doors.

Tenants are responsible for all damage caused by the pet, including to carpets, carpet padding and its related elements, floors, walls, draperies (if included) etc. Tenants are required to keep the unit in clean and sanitary conditions at all times."

The last line is your key; if they allow the unit to get all smelly and nasty, you have recourse to notice and correct.

Good luck! You're far braver than I!

[On the Road]

5. I've Never Charged,

but I just took over a building in which the tenant paid the previous landlord a $100 pet deposit.

[gpandas]

6. i once had a renter who wanted...

to keep a cat in his apartment. i have a rule of no pets, but he seemed so nice, i decided to let this one slide. no more-when he left the apartment the stink was so bad the entire duplex had to be redone with new carpet, paint and even the slab bleached with industrial strength cleaners. i have never owned a cat and did not realize the stench achieved by these critters. the entire episode has made me a cat hater, even though i never lived with one.

[Jessica]

8. It all depends ...

If the tenants don't clean out the litter, brush their cat, vacuum, do some daily cat hair removal, then it's obviously going to smell bad. But, I have a cat and a dog (and I'm renting a house) and I clean after them everyday. If you didn't see my two critters, you'd never know they were there. But, I'm sure not all tenants are as clean ... I'm a clean freak.

But, don't hate on the cats ... it's the owners' responsibility to maintain the apartment. And when they don't, I can definitely understand your angst.

[jburton]

7. Is the unit carpeted?

That's the big thing. Find out the cost of a professional carpet cleaning and factor that in your decision.

Also, make sure you have something in writing about smell BOTH while they live there AND when they move out. Some people are clueless that their home smells like shit and wafts into the neighbor's unit.

[Mutley]

10. i've been looking for apartments

and the average deposit for cats seems to be between $50 and $250. This is in Maryland.

[eileen from OH]

11. Thanks one and all for the suggestions

I've checked up on references and one and all say that the gal (she's the one with the cat. She's moving in with her bf.) is meticulous about everything - especially her cat. And, actually, that's the way she struck me as well, both in appearance and vehicle. She's a grad student in education who also substitute teaches. We have a few more things to check but these guys seem great, have the income needed, etc. So we decided to add $100 to the deposit, non-refundable.

Of course we've been fooled before but all ya can do is check the references and hope for the best.

BTW, our first tenants had a Bibical quote on their checks, which is now my Number One warning sign. Wound up taking them to small claims after they trashed the house, skipped out on the last month's rent, and lied about their future address. We won and collected from these fine Christians.

eileen from OH

[shesemsmom]

12. Include it in the lease

and charge a flat rate

[huskerlaw]

13. My lease

requires that the cat be declawed. Also there was a $100 pet deposit and an additional fee of $25/month.