The Landlord Protection Agency  
Main Menu, Landlord Protection Agency homepage Membership With The Landlord Protection Agency Free Landlord Services Member Services  

Re: Pet Deposit, How Much - Landlord Forum thread 223650

Re: Pet Deposit, How Much by Anonymous on May 13, 2011 @10:35

                              
To all landlords; charging a non-refundable deposit is down-right outrageous. If your tenant causes damage themselves or by their pet, there is this wonderful new system called the court of law to recoup losses. Most cases would result in an immediate judgment by any judge with obvious proof of pet damage. Plus you could then include court costs. This would take less time out of your day than dealing with irate tenants. Also, as a landlord, you have the right to make monthly inspections (within reason). If you really cared about the upkeep on the house/apartment that you lease, check up on the place once in a while. And if the pet is an outdoor pet, what's the point of a non-refund. deposit? If you're doing this, you're a money-hungry, greedy, piece of trash slum-lord. Also, there's is an exciting new trend going around - it's called home-owner's insurance. And they have clauses for damages caused by tenants. Pull your head out of your rear-ends. In this market - you should be thankful that your properties are being rented in the first place! Ignorant!
[ Reply ] [ Return to forum ]

Re: Pet Deposit, How Much by Anonymous on May 14, 2011 @11:32 [ Reply ]
Is it really outrageous? Well you go rent from ANY apartment complex and you will find they ALL charge a non refundable pet fee also some only allow certain size and quantity in regulations. So WHY should a landlord have to take a tenant to court to recoup fees? Would you rather pay pet deposit up front, or court legal fees, lawyer fees, and damage caused by pet? I would think pet deposit up front would be cheaper then bringing it to court, but that's just my opinion. I could care less about irate tenants that choose not to respect someone elses property, it isn't their house/property to just trash it. If pet is outdoor pet it STILL can cause damage like digging, feces, urine that can ruin lawn. WHY should landlords homeowners insurance pay and go up for a tenants lack of responsibility? I take it your NOT a landlord, but a bitter tenant that doesn't like the fact a landlord CAN charge pet fees. I think what your saying is IGNORANT! Notice you sign it Anonymous
    Re: Pet Deposit, How Much by Anonymous on February 7, 2013 @12:40 [ Reply ]
    This post is too emotional. Please remember that the property belongs to the landlord. Maybe you should think about buying your own place.
Re: Pet Deposit, How Much by mr nice (fl) on May 29, 2011 @19:52 [ Reply ]
to the jerk. be thankful u have place to stay
Re: Pet Deposit, How Much by JCC (Oregon) on August 21, 2011 @23:26 [ Reply ]
In this market, houses rent for more than they have in many years and the demand is extremely high. As someone who has had to replace thousands of dollars due to pet damage and even when there wasn't damage has had to spend hundreds of dollars cleaning up from pets, it is not outrageous or greedy. I think you forget that your land lord has a mortgage to pay on that property and is actually losing value on his property right now due to the market.

Be glad there are good landlords who provide good properties and make sure you never apply for one of mine.
Re: Pet Deposit, How Much by Mitch (NY) on September 10, 2011 @19:47 [ Reply ]
Please understand something, taking a tenant to court in no way guarantees a landlord one red cent. In the time it takes to go to small claims court, pay the court fee, and have a judge tell the tenant he or she is responsible, the landlord is losing money, still has a mess to clean up, still has a house to rent, and falls further behind in bills caused by the tenant's pet. If the tenant decides not to pay or has no money to pay, what is the landlord going to do? Sure, he or she can file a judgement which will go on the tenant's record, but the bill is still not paid.
The best and safest way is for a landlord to charge a non-refundable security deposit to cover any incidentals. It's protection for the landlords property and is well within the rights to protect themselves and their property. Even an outdoor pet causes damage to property, dogs will dig up your lawn, cats will pee, (inside and out) I know from experience! Trying to get rid of cat pee is not fun and cost money. As I said earlier, recouping money isn't as easy as you think. If a tenant is willing to let his or her pet mess in the house or dig up the lawn, you won't have much luck in recouping the cost. Trust me, I'm the landlord that was easy and got taken and it cost me $$. Thank you, but I will get my money up front and then if there's damage and the tenant won't pay, then I will take them to court and use part of that deposit for my court cost.
Re: Pet Deposit, How Much by Anonymous on September 12, 2011 @15:28 [ Reply ]
Be thankful that there was someone with enough fiscal sense to provide you with a place to live. Chances are good that your landlord does not own a pet.

Ever wonder why?
Re: Pet Deposit, How Much by L (MI) on September 19, 2011 @23:20 [ Reply ]
It stinks to end up in court. It eats up a whole day.
Works best to spell things out clearly in the lease agreement and avoid court. Just because of the shear waste. And recouping court fees is very difficult. The court system is good at passing judgement, but is not responsible for collections. You have to do the collections yourself, and that is difficult also.

Pets present additional risk. And this $ is required to offset that.
I allowed my first ever tenants to have two cats. 3 years later, I had to remove all carpet, pad, and coat the floor with Killz to get the smell to disappear (urine). Total cost = $4000.
Re: Pet Deposit, How Much by Vanessa (CA) on December 17, 2011 @18:52 [ Reply ]
YOU are obviously a disgruntled tenant who is pissed that your landlord charges you a STANDARD deposit for pets. You are also probably pissed that you have to rent because you can't afford to buy a house or your credit sucks. Probably both. WE, landlords, are not money-hungry or greedy...and charging a pet deposit absolutely has nothing to do with being a slum-lord. You obviously come from a sue-happy social world and if you do your research you will find that just because you sue somebody and win a judgement does not mean that you will get your money. Furthermore, it does take time and MONEY to take a person to court. Again, even if you ask for court fees, if you never see a dime from your judgement, you've just wasted more money. You, are super ignorant and I feel sorry for you.
There is a reason that people rent, because they can't buy...otherwise, they would. So, if not for us Landlords, people like you would have no place to live. So, give up your ungratefulness and realize the economy has nothing to do with renting...because of people like you, our homes will ALWAYS be rented out. YOU, ungratefulness, are the IGNORANT one.
Re: Pet Deposit, How Much by Anonymous on April 18, 2012 @17:04 [ Reply ]
Grow some balls and give your name! Have you ever dealt with the court system in America? It's not as easy as you think. Perhaps your head is stuck up your ass. And as for home owners insurance, you must not own any property because your home owners insurance won't cove damage caused by pathetic rat renters like you obviously are. Tenants that have animals should be thankful for landlords that allow pets.
Re: Pet Deposit, How Much by gr8day (Texas) on August 6, 2012 @20:29 [ Reply ]
You must be one of those people that don't care about the losses that someone else incurs due to the damages that you even without pets can cause, I have had tenants that have let a leak gone on that they are completely aware of and insurance might have covered had they reported the leak, but it went on long enough that it created mold and the ceiling fell in the room and it set there like that for months cause the ass, did not want me to see the condition he was keeping my home in. this cost over 40,000 dollars to repair and you can sue his indignant ass but what will you get nothing. But for you I guess it's okay as long as the state pays your rent.
Re: Pet Deposit, How Much by Chris (PA) on February 7, 2013 @12:37 [ Reply ]
This post is too emotional. Please remember that the property belongs to the landlord. Maybe you should think about buying your own place.
Re: Pet Deposit, How Much by Anonymous (FL) on December 4, 2013 @23:44 [ Reply ]
Are you insane? Going to court is NOT FREE and homeowners insurance does not cover pet damage even if it did ...you wouldn't want a claim against insurance I already pay $2400 a yr and it would be stupid to put in a claim, and risk cancelation... hard enough to get homeowners inFlorida. I spent 20 yrs in the cleaning business, animals don't just ruin carpet, scratch and gouge woodwork, but the smell is impossible to get rid of even after you replace carpet. You are completely ignorant, I'd like to see see you welcome someone else's animals into your house to destroy it.
Re: Pet Deposit, How Much by Anon' (WA.) on March 9, 2014 @05:57 [ Reply ]
You obviously do NOT own property you chief so what would you know about it?!
I love pets as well BUT there's always a smell left over no matter what YOU may think so shut your ignorant pie-hole
Re: Pet Deposit, How Much by Don (Ohio) on April 25, 2014 @22:28 [ Reply ]
I bet you've never lost $ and time because of someone else's negligence. Landlords work hard to keep their properties. They have to protect themselves. Would you trust your investment to someone you barely know???
Re: Pet Deposit, How Much by Jim (TX) on May 15, 2014 @18:57 [ Reply ]
I agree with the previous two posts. The cost of going to court is so high we landlords must simply accept the losses such as renters skipping out without paying last month's rent, trashing the place way in excess of what the security deposit covers, etc. Therefore, to make leasing ones property a profitable business proposition, we must have renters "pay as they go."

Believe me, once you own your own property and lease it, you find (or already know if you've done the research) leasing ones property has very low margins - mostly because renters irresponsibly cause damage or don't pay. To a large degree, so-called "income earning" property mostly depends on appreciation which is risky and speculative, and not on income.
Re: Pet Deposit, How Much by J (MN) on May 28, 2014 @14:03 [ Reply ]
You are an possibly uninformed. Should a landlord have to pay for new carpet etc because your pet pissed or crapped all over it? Hate to tell you but us landlords do not make as much off of a rental as you would think and to expect them to pay out of pocket for misuse do to a pet is crazy.

Also, did it ever occure to you that landlords need to make a profit? If they did not, why would they rent their property...and where would you be?
Re: Pet Deposit, How Much by Wendy (NC) on August 12, 2014 @05:59 [ Reply ]
You gotta be kidding. Had to evict tenants because their pets who NEVER EVER DID ANYTHING.....TOTALLY trashed our rental home. Had to replace ALL CARPET, LINOLEUM, CABINETS FROM SCRATCHING, PATCH AND RE-PAINT ALL WALLS, REPLACE ALL SCREENS, MINI BLINDS. REPAIR MOLDING AND DOORS!!!! I WAS STUPID!!!!They couldnt afford the pet fees and they swore their pets were perfect. Well they snuck in another dog, cat, plus two big birds in addition to the dog and cat that was at deaths door supposedly and her husband had just passed away. Yep..Won judgement in court but not ONE DIME HAS BEEN PAID!!!!
Re: Pet Deposit, How Much by Wendy (NC) on August 12, 2014 @06:11 [ Reply ]
In addition to above..had to pull up all padding..paint kilz on all floors to help with odor!!!!!!!!! You are really out of the loop or just mad because you have to pay for your mutt to destroy someone ELSE'S PROPERTY.....WHERE IS THE RESPECT ANYMORE? UNREAL!!!!!!!!!!! I SUSPECT YOUVE LEFT SOMEONE ELSE'S HOME TRASHED TOO!! MAYBE NOT!! DONT COME KNOCKING ON MY DOOR!!!!!!
Re: Pet Deposit, How Much by Anonymous (North Carolina) on March 18, 2016 @15:27 [ Reply ]
You're narrative suggests you are bitter and totally ignorant. Landlords n-e-v-e-r recover everything in court. At best, they get judgement which the tenant never pays. The only hope is that you screen out potential nightmare tenants in the application/screening process. If you are ever unfortunate enough to be a landlord, you'll see the absolute necessity of charging a pet deposit, if you allow pets at all. Calling anyone who asks for a deposit greedy further reveals your ignorance. You don't like it? Move on. The market charges what the market will bare. Show me a landlord who doesn't cover his losses with a deposit and I'll show you a future bankrupt landlord and a property in foreclosure.
Re: Pet Deposit, How Much by Bill (Florida) on April 20, 2016 @14:34 [ Reply ]
I understand the compassion we feel for our pets. However, I have a $500,000.00 home we rent. A potential tenant wants to have a pet. My belief is simple, I stand to loose a large sum of money if the pet destroys the yard and interior of the home. I charge $1400 pet deposit and a $500.00 cleaning fee. This is a custom home with pool, boat dock and wood floors. The flooring alone is $15000.00. What do you think is fare if it was your home?
Re: Pet Deposit, How Much by Josh (Ohio) on September 26, 2016 @00:19 [ Reply ]
You are a complete ass!
Re: Pet Deposit, How Much by Smithy on July 31, 2017 @23:10 [ Reply ]
I think your comment is ignorant.
Re: Pet Deposit, How Much by Anonymous on July 31, 2017 @23:10 [ Reply ]
I think your comment is ignorant.

Check-Out
Log in

Look-up
Associations
Attorneys
Businesses
Rentals Available
Rentals Wanted
Realty Brokers
Landlord Articles
Tips & Advice
Tenant Histories

Other Areas
Q&A Forum
Free Forms
Essential Forms
Landlord Tenant Law
Join Now
Credit Reports
About Us
Site Help



Contact The LPA

© 2000-2023 The Landlord Protection Agency, Inc.

If you enjoy The LPA, Please
like us on Facebook The LPA on Facebook
Follow us on Twitter The LPA on Twitter
+1 us on Google