Pet deposit
I’m a new landlord and am looking at tenants with dogs. I know a lot of you think this is a terrible idea (I’ve read the posts), all for good reasons, but I’ve had some training interviewing dogs and feel pretty solid about it. What I don’t know is what to charge for a pet…
I’m a new landlord and am looking at tenants with dogs. I know a lot of you think this is a terrible idea (I’ve read the posts), all for good reasons, but I’ve had some training interviewing dogs and feel pretty solid about it.
What I don’t know is what to charge for a pet deposit. I’m sure my realtor would give me an opinion, but I was curious what the brownstoners would say. The apartment is a 1200sf duplex in a brownstone with some decent period detail.
Thanks.
I rented a place with wall to wall carpeting, and the owners changed hands while I lived there. The new owners (when our lease renewed) asked us to sign an addendum that we would pay for carpet cleaning whenever we moved out. New owner was allergic to cats and thought future tenants might be also. It seemed very reasonable to me. Other than peeing on floors (which is unusual) cats have less potential for damage,whereas dogs can potentially chew, scratch up floors,etc.
Dogs can be really destructive.
I have had two dog tenants in the past. I met both dogs beforehand. The first time, I charged an extra month’s security and definitely used much of it.
The second time, I decided that I would charge less (1/2 a month instead of a whole month) extra security if the dog could prove that he had completed at least one obedience course, and if the trainer would vouch for the dog. I called the dog’s trainer as I called other references for the human tenant, to make sure the dog and owner finished the class, didn’t miss a lot of classes, etc. The dog gladly showed off his good behavior when I met him.
The second option worked way better. I own a dog myself, and think it’s overly punitive to make *responsible* pet owners pay through the nose for other people’s irresponsibility. A class is a good thing for any dog and owner to do, and is a lot cheaper (and more useful) than an outsized security deposit.
I don’t know what interviewing dogs involves, but I had a friend who got a small dog and he chewed off quite a bit of the woodwork and ruined a door. (Not in a brownstone.)
That sounds excessive. After introducing the dog to our perspective landlord we shelled out an extra $500 on top of the one month security for the dog (70lbs. pitbull).
when I rented my landlord charged me an extra month security deposit for my dog. At the time, $1500. I got it back when we moved out, we had no damages. I will admit it was a lot to pay first month, last month and two security deposits at once when we moved in, but I really loved the apartment and the landlord (and of course, my dog!)