Re: pet fee vs pet deposit - Landlord Forum thread 355053

Re: pet fee vs pet deposit by Garry (Iowa) on November 12, 2017 @22:50

I'm from Iowa, and I don't know Ill. laws. But since you found something online, it looks like our laws are similar. If you charge a fee, and the T stays 1 year, you have an extra $300 towards any damages, no matter how they are caused. (2 years would mean another $300 above your standard rent.) We in Ia. can charge a pet deposit, and it simply becomes part of the regular deposit, and can be used for any damages, or unpaid rent. In fact, we can charge a combination of both if we wish. But it's up to the prospective T if they want to pay what you ask, for their pet(s). A 14 YO cat, is very likely trained to a litter box, so I doubt you will have much trouble with the cat. If the T checks out OK in other respects, rent to them. Just remember, if you get "greedy" in wanting extra for the cat, the T may just walk away, and find some other LL more accommodating. I would suggest a combo of $100 extra deposit and $15/mo extra rent, and see if the T will go with that. And, yes, put everything in writing.

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Re: pet fee vs pet deposit by Anonymous on November 13, 2017 @00:15	[ Reply ]

They were the ones that brought up the $300 figure for pet deposit, I just divided it by 12 mo. I didn't take in the fact they'd possibly be there longer than a yr so I see where you're coming from. So you're saying once they pay a sec dep & a pet deposit, it all gets combined into 1 dep & all damages(be it from the cat or not) come from out of the total of it. Or do you treat each as a different deposit(IE: de-fleaing if they dont use anything for prevention or the cat backing its behind to a wall to spray would come out of the pet deposit. I will definitely have to see if the cats been spayed/nuetered