Extra rent for the cat??
March 19, 2006 2:42 PM   Subscribe

Quick show of hands or something: How common is it for landlords to want an extra amount per month, in addition to a pet deposit, for a renter who has a pet cat? I completely understand the need for the pet deposit, but it strikes me a little weird to be told, "Oh, if you have a cat, that's an extra $25 a month."
posted by pax digita to Pets & Animals (40 answers total)
 
At my apartment, it was just an ititial pet deposit for my dog, no extra monthly fee.
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 2:43 PM on March 19, 2006 [1 favorite]


Initial deposit + flat monthly fee for cats and/or dogs.
posted by sonofsamiam at 2:48 PM on March 19, 2006


$20/month/cat, no deposit
posted by JohnR at 2:53 PM on March 19, 2006


Lots of places we looked at in the Bay Area wanted $25/month pet rent, plus $700 deposit. We managed to find no pet rent, $300 deposit. I had never heard of 'pet rent' before looking in that area.
posted by livii at 2:56 PM on March 19, 2006


No deposit, 25 a month for the cats.
posted by Loto at 2:58 PM on March 19, 2006


half-refundable $200 deposit, no fee
posted by clarahamster at 3:02 PM on March 19, 2006


In both college towns I've lived in, this was standard practice. At least it was standard in the few places that allowed pets at all.
posted by jaysus chris at 3:02 PM on March 19, 2006


I charge an extra pet deposit but not a monthly fee. That sounds excessive.
posted by growabrain at 3:08 PM on March 19, 2006


I've seen some places that require extra "pet rent", sometimes quite a large amount per month. I've never rented from those places. Most places that allow pets have just wanted a deposit, and my current landlord was desperate and didn't even ask for that.
posted by dilettante at 3:09 PM on March 19, 2006


I've lived in two places since having my cats--but under three different landlords. At place number one, the first landlord wanted $20/cat. The second wanted nothing. At place number two, it was back to $20/cat.
posted by divka at 3:11 PM on March 19, 2006


I'm paying $25/mo extra for a cat in a mid-size semi-rural college town - deposit was 1 mo + $25. Every place I've seen in this town in the last three years charged extra pet rent if pets were allowed.
posted by nonane at 3:16 PM on March 19, 2006


No extra deposit - $20 extra monthly for our dog.
posted by DieHipsterDie at 3:25 PM on March 19, 2006


It's not legal to charge anything where I live. But they can refuse to rent to you.
posted by acoutu at 3:30 PM on March 19, 2006


I've limited the types and number of pets that tenants could have. I've charged additional deposits for pets. But never, ever "pet rent". It does seem to be relatively common among Northern California (SF, Sac and beyond) landlords, but not so widespread much that it's impossible to avoid.

Personally, I'd never agree to pay "pet rent". What a ripoff. Market value, mortgage payment, and utility costs don't magically change when a dog or cat enters the premises -- so why should the rent? A pet can however reduce the lifetime of carpet, yard landscaping, etc -- for that, an extra deposit is reasonable.

If you like an apartment a lot, try negotiating for a refundable deposit instead. However, if your local market's vacancy rate is very low, you're basically stuck with whatever terms someone's willing to offer.
posted by nakedcodemonkey at 3:32 PM on March 19, 2006


I used to work in a rental department, and after what I have seen in that capacity, if I ever rent anything out it will be pet free, totally. The pet deposit did not even begin to cover some of the damage some of these animals did.

OTOH I like kitties. But a guinea pig is about as far as I will probably ever go again.
posted by konolia at 3:34 PM on March 19, 2006


at my last apartment, $250 refundable deposit per pet plus $20 per month pet rent per pet. at my current apartment, $300 non refundable pet deposit, no monthly fee.
posted by mewithoutyou at 3:40 PM on March 19, 2006


No pets allowed, but there's like 17 cats in the building.
posted by signal at 3:50 PM on March 19, 2006


Last time I rented (7 years ago) it was an extra $40/month for the dog.
posted by nenequesadilla at 3:54 PM on March 19, 2006


Response by poster: Thanks for replies so far.

Depending where I wind up renting, I may suggest to the landlord that I pay a larger nonrefundable pet deposit in lieu of the monthly surcharge. I'm hoping that just some guy who's renting a townhouse he owns is more flexible than a corporately managed apartment complex.
posted by pax digita at 3:55 PM on March 19, 2006


I've looked at apartments in different states where they charged an additional monthly pet fee too. Plenty of people are great about keeping their pets from doing much damage, but plenty of people's pets provide LOTS of additional wear and tear on a place, over and above the price of the pet deposit. I think a lot of landlords go that route ultimately because it's easier than trying to squeeze the tenant for the damage money at the end, after they've already moved out and taken off for parts unknown.

It'd be nice if the conscientious tenants, who don't let their pets wreck the place, could be assured of getting at least some of that "pet rent" back at the end if the apartment's condition passes a stringent walkthrough, though. Can't hurt to ask if such a possibility might be written into the lease, though I suppose it's unlikely they'll agree.
posted by Gator at 4:01 PM on March 19, 2006


What sort of damage can a pet do to an apartment, other than ruining carpet?
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 4:09 PM on March 19, 2006 [1 favorite]


It's legal most places, but cheezy. Oh, and you would be utterly shocked at what kind of damage The Wrong Pet can do.
posted by ilsa at 4:11 PM on March 19, 2006


If nothing else, bad enough smells can be damn near impossible to get out.
posted by nebulawindphone at 4:16 PM on March 19, 2006


huh, how interesting. I've never heard of this in NYC (though plenty of places refuse to rent to pet owners).
posted by mdn at 4:20 PM on March 19, 2006


(I mean, I've never heard of a "pet deposit" or "pet rent" - just a "no pets policy")
posted by mdn at 4:21 PM on March 19, 2006


What sort of damage can a pet do to an apartment, other than ruining carpet?

Not much more, but they can scratch wood and walls. Our cat scratches the hell out of doors and door-trim when you lock him out of or in a room (but I own my house). My mom's dog scratched the hell out of the door area at her last apartment by pawing at the door when she heard something.

Dogs can also be a nuisance in that they bark and piss off neighbors, thus giving the owner a headache when the neighbor complains.

But I bet this kind of pet rent makes good sense in certain markets -- like a college town. College kids don't have a lot of money up front, thus a deposit might keep them away. But they don't stay long, so charging $25/mo. might make it almost the same on the average stay.

But if you stay somewhere for long or the rent is high, pet rent would be a major rip off. If it is combined with a deposit, it is a rip off, period.
posted by teece at 4:22 PM on March 19, 2006


From the Washington Post Landlord Chat : Just a comment or two regarding pets and pet rent. I have almost always found that if you give well-screened renters a clean, well-maintained, well-appointed apartment they will take care of it. The one consistent exception to this rule has been cat owners (I don't allow dogs). I have allowed a number of renters who look great on paper to bring their cats along only to regret it every time. From mounds of fur on carpets and in vent systems, to litter in every nook and cranny (yes, even the "clean step" stuff won't stay in the box), to the ubiquitous carpet stains (it's kind of funny that every cat owner I have ever encountered claims that their cat never urinated on a rug, yet they all do end up having at least one "accident"). The long and short of it is even with an extra deposit or pet rents, I just don't find it worth my while.

Here in Alexandria, Virginia, we paid a $200 deposit and a $15 a month pet rent for our apartment (or about 1%). I sort of find it curious about the landlord above complaining about carpet issues, since in every apartment I've ever rented in this area, once an old tenant moves out, the first thing they do is completely recarpet. (shrug)
posted by crunchland at 4:29 PM on March 19, 2006


Never heard of extra rent for the pet. We charge 1/2 month's rent security deposit, and another 1/2 month's rent for a pet damage deposit if the tenant has a pet. This ability to charge a pet damage deposit was included in new legislation in January 2004. I am in BC, Canada.
posted by Savannah at 4:53 PM on March 19, 2006


What sort of damage can a pet do to an apartment, other than ruining carpet?

They can destroy a suite. I have pictures on my work computer. They can chew and shred carpet, they can ruin carpet and soak urine and feces to the underlay and flooring beneath the carpet. They can tear blinds and drapery. They can chew baseboards. They can destroy landscaping.

We had a tenant with a single cat that cause a flood in two condominiums. (The tenants locked the cat, or the cat was trapped, in the bathroom, and it chewed a pipe open.)

I have pictures on my work machine that would turn any animal-lover or housing owner's stomach.
posted by Savannah at 4:56 PM on March 19, 2006


I live in Los Angeles, and have rented many apartments, along with my two cats, in the course of the last 15 years. I've never been asked for anything over the normal security deposit at any apartment I ever lived in. In fact, I've never even heard of a pet deposit before reading this thread!
posted by RoseovSharon at 4:59 PM on March 19, 2006


I own 3 units and from experience we just have a "no pets" policy now. It's not worth it.

But we would certainly charge a pet deposit and a monthly fee. Those animals can really mess a place up.
posted by visual mechanic at 5:09 PM on March 19, 2006


no increased deposit, $20 per cat...

that they know about
posted by Mick at 5:39 PM on March 19, 2006


Wild. I've since having my cats I've lived two places in TN, two places in DE, and currently live in NYC. I've never had a landlord even charge me a pet deposit, much less pet rent. Is this something that's started in the last five years?
posted by kimdog at 6:18 PM on March 19, 2006


Pet urine can soak a carpet all the way down to the wood flooring. In order to get rid of the odor the wood has to be sanded and refinished.

I ain't kidding.
posted by konolia at 6:21 PM on March 19, 2006


Our lease says a deposit and a monthly rent ($25, not sure about the deposit), but management don't enforce it. We have two cats and have never been asked to pay anything.

They do have a two cat limit, which I think is probably a good idea. A couple of cats can do much less damage than a teeming apartment full of them.
posted by crabintheocean at 6:40 PM on March 19, 2006


I had to sign a separate "Pet Agreement" in addition to my lease. I didn't have to pay a (non-refundable) pet fee or a pet deposit. The rent is $25.00 per month per pet, so the cats are costing me $50/month in rent.

Because some dog owners don't pick up after their dogs, my place is considering raising the pet rent for all owners.
posted by Fat Guy at 6:54 PM on March 19, 2006


What sort of damage can a pet do to an apartment

They can completely fuck it up. Cats in particular, but dogs too if they're locked in a room. Cats can (and will) pee and throw up on carpets (hairballs ain't nothing compared to cat piss in terms of cleanup bills). They can scratch the ever living shit out of trim pieces (particularly trim around doors). They can tear up carpets (especially the part where a carpeted area meets up with a non-carpeted area). Then there's the hair that gets everywhere (central-air ducts, heating vents, carpets, corners, cabinets, etc.) meaning you can basically never rent to another tenant with cat alergies ever again.

It's ironic that these animals with such fastidous natural instincts can be such a royal, dirty pain in the ass.
posted by Civil_Disobedient at 8:01 PM on March 19, 2006


I may be off track here, but it seems like the biggest problem is cats + carpet. I've only ever lived in rentals with timber flooring. Have been refused rentals because of our cat; there are no dogs allowed in our current place (shame, we wanted one) but no pet rent and no pet deposit. I'm in the northeast. Are there parts of the country where carpeted apartments and "pet rent" fees are simultaneously more common?
posted by ads at 8:44 PM on March 19, 2006


I've gotten out of "pet rent" by having my vet write a note explaining that my cat is is in good health with no chronic urinary problems, and that she's front declawed. Previous landlords have also vouched that the cat didn't cause any damage.
posted by desuetude at 6:48 AM on March 20, 2006


My husband had to pay a $500 pet deposit for his carpeted apartment (Connecticut) before he could bring his cat there. (Apparently they checked for cat urine with a black light after he moved out; since his little princess is extremely fastidious, they didn't find any and he got his deposit back.)

My last apartment had a $25/month pet-rent. I had two cats at the time I moved in; one died while I was living there but I didn't get (or ask for) a decrease. The only carpeted room was the bathroom (I know, no sense).
posted by dlugoczaj at 12:49 PM on March 22, 2006


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