|
1) don't lose your temper with the judge, it is a really bad idea, especially if you play the race card 2) because you lost your temper, you will lose this case, but in the future don't charge "pet fees", just have one rent amount for tenants with pets, and one rent amount for tenants without pets. That way the lease will only say $xxx rent. If a non-pet owner (paying the lower rent) moves in a pet, then evict them. 3) all my rentals are strictly no pets, its not worth the hassle 4) the tenant kind of has a point, you are trying to charge both damages and pet fees on top of damages, so it looks like you are trying to double up with the damages My last ditch argument would be this: "The tenant signed a contract where they agreed to pay $xxx/month to have a pet on the premises. The tenant is over 18, and not legally insane, so can enter into a contract and be bound by its terms. I am asking the court to enforce that contract. I do not charge these fees to cover damages, but for the same reason I charge rent: to pay my mortgage, property taxes, and other building expenses. Since many other buildings to not accept pets at all, I can make more money by accepting pets and charging an extra fee. The tenant fully understood this when they signed a contract agreeing to pay pet fees if a pet were present in the apartment."
|
