Mr. Jake - Dogs - Pet fee - Landlord Forum thread

Mr. Jake - Dogs - Pet fee by Anna Mouse on March 22, 2012 @12:29

I want to thank you for challenging me on the pet fee. Even though I think I am correct in thinking that if a tenant brings in an animal they should pay more. The reasons they should pay more is there is additional wear and tear on the property that just would not happen without the animal.

However because you called me a "pick pocket" you made me think. (grin) I have with purpose held my rent below the market so I could a) find someone who had stellar credit and 3x the income ratio to rent. b) to find someone without an animal. Come to find out I am indeed easily $500 dollars undermarket on the upper end. What I have seen in the absurd response for my property is maybe 80% of the people have animals. That means the pool of tenants I am choosing from is pretty small.

So if I were able to tap into that 80% of the market who has pets I conclude that maybe 20% of those prospects may indeed be good pet owners with an animal whom is well behaved, mellow and will only create a small amount of wear and tear on my property.

So the next time I am put my property on the market I am going to ask the market price.

Here is the question or the part I am asking response on. I am going to consider pets conditionally and require a large deposit. **I am going to write into the lease all of the items that the tenant will be paying out of their deposit in regards to the damage that their pets may do. For example off the top of my head:

- mandantory hardwood floor buffying and a new coat.
- an allowance for resod as I see fit
- painting of baseboards, walls, doorframes, doors if needed
- cleaning of windows as I see fit
- wiping down all areas with a bleach solution for pet dander
- what else?

Jake I swear if you say this is not fair I am going to scream. Somewhere somehow people who have pets should pay more to cover the expense to the LL. If you disagree with this I have real issue with you and your business sense.

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Re: Mr. Jake - Dogs - Pet fee by Jake on March 22, 2012 @12:46	[ Reply ]

Have all the issues you want. What do you need my approval for? All the damages and cleaning you list are paid for from the deposit on the rental. So, what is the pet fee for? About the upper end rent...it does not matter how the rent amount is determined. You still have to find someone to pay it.

Re: Mr. Jake - Dogs - Pet fee

No extra money no extra fee

Re: No extra money no extra fee

Re: Questions to ask - Pet

Re: Mr. Jake - Dogs - Pet fee by Anonymous on March 22, 2012 @16:05	[ Reply ]

To Mr. Jake: I am one of those purse snatching landlords who charge a non-refundable pet fee. That way I can get around having to give a refund for the pet at all. I charge a fee because of the risk I take with accepting any pets, and because of the incremental wear and tear that pets cause on my property. This risk and extra wear are not covered by the SD. Less than 20% of the SFH rentals in my area accept pets at all and all charge a fee or deposit. It is reasonable and customary here to charge a pet fee. Interestingly enough, the last three tenants in my place had/have no pets. This may be because the prospective tenants interviewed with pets did not pass my screening criteria (not qualified) or never followed through. One lady, a Phd, had a website set up as reference material for prospective landlords for her three big dogs. I would have possibly taken her but we did not agree on some other issues. That being said, I do not penalize non-pet tenants with increased rent or fees. I am definitely at market value in my area. During my last vacancy, a year ago, I went through about 150 inquiries. Of those 150 prospective tenants only 3% passed my screening criteria, so I only had to show the house to five people. Only one of the five qualified tenants had a dog and I would have accepted them with the pet fee. Another tenant rented the place with no pets.

Re: Mr. Jake - Dogs - Pet fee

Re: Mr. Jake - Dogs - Pet fee by Anonymous on March 22, 2012 @21:09	[ Reply ]

Let's say that we didn't have a pet fee but offered the pet less folks a monthly discount for not housing a pet in our property, is that also purse snatching?

Re: Mr. Jake - Dogs - Pet fee

Re: Mr. Jake - Dogs - Pet fee by Anonymous on March 24, 2012 @04:44	[ Reply ]

I use a pet fee. That way I am telling the potential tenant up front what it is going to cost them to keep a pet on my property. Other landlords use a pet deposit, but my state frowns upon more than the equivalent of one month's rent for a security deposit. That's why I call it a fee, and make it clear this amount is not a security deposit, and potentially refundable. Anna, if your state allows more than one month's rental amount for a security deposit, and a pet security deposit, ask for both. This is only protecting your interest and your property. Some posters here have probably never even rented a broom closet.