Landlords -- Pet deposit refundable vs. non-refundable? (1 Viewer)

[gianmarco]

For those of you that have been landlords, how do you deal with pet deposits/fees? Refundable despoit or non-refundable fee? If refundable, how much? What about if non-refundable? Charge more for more pets (2 dogs vs. 1, for example)?

ETA--FWIW, the house I'll be renting out doesn't have any carpet (hardwood floor and tile). Does that make a difference?

 

[Jack White]

Pet deposit should be called a pet fee. How much does new carpeting cost?

 

[Mr. Ected]

When we were tenants with pets, I don't think we never got the 'pet' portion of a deposit back. It usually covered the landlord going back and doing a deeper cleaning so they could rent the place to a new tenant better.

 

[Foosball God]

If there is never a condition where the person could get their money back then it shouldn't be called a deposit imo.

 

[Cjw_55106]

Ive never rented or been a landlord. That being said, its almost never refunded and the policy usually indicates how many pets (and sometimes how big) you can have. It is also usually a flat fee and not per pet.

 

[gianmarco]

That's why I put "fee" after deposit above. Yes, it's a fee if non-refundable.

Same initial question still stands: Refundable pet deposit or non-refundable fee?

 

[Doug B]

Pet deposit should be called a pet fee. How much does new carpeting cost?

This kind of stuff varies a lot between states, and between individual lanlords, apartment conglomerates, etc. It depends on a few things.

A few apartments I lived in, they'd put in new carper between new tenants practically every time. Pets, no pets, whatever. So a pet "deposit" just set aside for carpet cleaning didn't make sense. Now, the pet "deposit" could've been allocated to other things -- just not carpet cleaning.

 

[Jack White]

Pet deposit should be called a pet fee. How much does new carpeting cost?

This kind of stuff varies a lot between states, and between individual lanlords, apartment conglomerates, etc. It depends on a few things.

A few apartments I lived in, they'd put in new carper between new tenants practically every time. Pets, no pets, whatever. So a pet "deposit" just set aside for carpet cleaning didn't make sense. Now, the pet "deposit" could've been allocated to other things -- just not carpet cleaning.

Good luck trying to "clean" urine out a carpet, especially with cats.

I would have no problem paying a fee as a renter. Pets offer lots of benefits, but there are also costs.

 

[wilked]

That's why I put "fee" after deposit above. Yes, it's a fee if non-refundable.

Same initial question still stands: Refundable pet deposit or non-refundable fee?

why would a fee be refundable? If it was refundable I would call it a deposit?