Dog lovers: How much of a rent premium would you be willing to pay ...

I’ve had to give 100 or 200 for a “pet deposit” and then usually an extra 15–50 dollars a month in rent….. I recommend finding a realtor who offers the lower end of that in the rent addition.

I am the owner and the property manager. No realtor involved. Just employees.

Well, $100—$200 is a reasonable pet deposit (as I understand it realtors MUST replace carpet or something once a pet owner moves out). The most I’d willingly pay unless I absolutely had too for monthly fee, is maybe 30 bucks?

One thing I’d advise- don’t set size restrictions on the dogs you’ll accept. Small dogs are often more destructive than larger ones, and large dog owners are always looking for pet-friendly rentals!

If I were a property owner I would absolutely be concerned about the damages that can be caused by an animal. Especially if I’m going to be paying for carpeting, lawn care, etc. In this aspect I would charge quite a bit for an animal, but at the same time in a renters perspective, it must be affordable. A lot of people have pets and unfortunately a lot of places don’t allow them. I would stick with maybe 100–200 dollars deposit and maybe $20 per month if you want to add a monthly fee.

Also… please please don’t discriminate against types of animals, or animal weights. So many places have a list of dog breeds that aren’t allowed, and I think that is absolutely bogus since any dog can be a good dog depending on its upbringing.. and it doesn’t matter if your dog weighs 10 lbs or 100 lbs, if it poops on the carpet – it poops on the carpet. Weight doesn’t determine a good dog.

It’s just not as offensive having poop from a 20 on dog as from a 100 on dog. Although we are installing poop bag stations.

well if its inside its going to depend on the renter on if they are going to clean it up or not, its still poop. Now if it’s outside… and there is a common area where dogs are allowed to relieve themselves, and bag stations are available I would post the common $XX fine signs around the area for those who don’t clean up after the animal. I think anyone who has a dog and visits the area wouldn’t have a problem reporting someone who doesn’t clean up after their dog, otherwise the area is going to go down the tubes. If that doesn’t work maybe even invest in a couple cameras and if you find that someone isn’t cleaning up after their dog you can determine who it is and give them the fine.

Fines! I love it!

I take my dog out to an area of grass that isn’t really “anyone’s” yard, and is more the city. As gross as it sounds, I walk by the next day and it’s usually gone. I’ve yet to figure out where it’s going…..

Take into consideration how much more your insurance company will charge for the increase in liability coverage, and use that as a rule of thumb. You will want to charge enough to cover it.

I have paid up to 1000 extra security deposit for having my dogs with me. I don’t mind at all paying an extra deposit because I know my dogs are well behaved and will not do damage to property.

Dog crap is dog crap and a little pile can be just as messy on the bottom of your shoe as a big pile. So I agree no size discrimination. And don’t most towns and cities already have clean up after your dog legislation in place?

Having worked in property management in metropolitan DC for a lot of years I would also add that in my experience no dog has ever set the building on fire by playing with matches, they do not have loud drunken parties when their parents go out of town (and if well trained, do not bark either). Usually if the lessee is a good tenant in general, their dogs will be good as well.

When we had tenants in a house, we asked for a got a $250.00 non refundable pet deposit and $25.00 extra a month on the rent. When we ourselves were renters in apartments, the pet deposit was $750., $250. of it non refundable and the rent increase was $35. a month. Our dog was an investment we knew would cost money in all sorts of ways when we accepted him, I for one have no regrets.

Consider the noise as well. The tenant in the next apartment might choose a quieter place to live and leave you with a vacancy.

In my area it’s usually between 250–500 up front, and sometimes a small fee each month, between 15–25/month.
I agree on the size limitations. We actually had to send my Miniature Pinscher to live with my parents, but could keep our beagle, because the min pin was a yapper! He annoyed everyone in the complex :( The beagle rarely barked. This complex allowed all dogs, and we had those signs warning of Fines for not picking up poop. It seemed to be effective for outside.

My son paid $500. extra security in Philadelphia for his dog. I don’t think the monthly rent was higher but I’m not sure.

I paid a one-time fee of $250 per cat. Nothing added to the rent.

I paid a 100.00 non refundable fee and an extra 10.00 a month. My friend has 4 small dogs that pee all over her carpet and my large dog have never done that, so size limits should not be considered.

As far as noise goes, I am making my “pet friendly” apartments the ones that face a busy street that I have a hard time renting.
I am listening about size restrictions, what about breed restrictions? ( although my insurance company will probably answer that for me.)

@Judi I personally think breed restrictions are ridiculous and continue to feed people’s fear of certain breeds, giving them a bad rap. Unless your insurance company specifies certain breeds are not allowed (which I imagine pit bull would be the main one) then I wouldn’t have any restrictions. Pit bulls need homes too.

Anyplace that I’ve rented from, I’ve never had to pay any extras for having pets. From where I live, I’ve never heard of anyone having to pay extra.

@Judi Did you click on my link above? I’d forbid Westies. ;-)

I am going to wait until I get to a real computer to hit your link. I’m on my iPhone now and just being to fluther OCD

No breed restrictions. Give a discount if the owners provide proof of an AKC Canine Good Citizen certificate (or the equivalent.)

$300 at most. It’s just way too expensive with anything else=P

I don’t understand the extra monthly charge. I think an extra security deposit is what is required. And that should be refunded if there is no damage when the tenants leave. There is no need to charge more per month, dogs don’t take showers or do anything that would cost the landlord extra???

We charge our tenants $350 for a pet deposit, and nothing extra monthly. We’ve experienced more damage from small children of tenants than from pet lovers’ pets.

Carpets get stained from Kool-aid and mac & cheese just as easily as from urine. Pets and kids can both destroy woodwork and walls, although the pets don’t use crayons and punch holes through drywall. I haven’t had a pet break a window or flood the house yet, either.

Maybe I should charge a “children deposit”, and give a break to people who vow to remain childless while renting! ~

Good on ya Divalicious, it has always been my experience as well!

I paid $200 security for our dog, and an extra $25 per month for “pet rent” and it was well worth it. My complex also charges a higher security deposit for cats that still have claws, I believe it is $300.

My neighbor is messier, smellier and way more destructive than my Border Collie.
But does he get the extra fee’s upon move in?............Nooooo.

@maybe_KB I’ve seen this with tenants before

@Divalucious, children are a fair housing protected class under familial status. Pets are not.

@Judi – so what does that mean exactly, you legally have to rent to people with children? You can’t charge an extra security deposit for children?

What about adult only buildings and apt. complexes, I lived in several of them over the years?

Fair Housing Act forbids discrimination against children. I think “familial status” was added in the 80’s. The only exception is Senior communities.

@Judi – That seems grossly unfair to landlords, you buy a property and then can’t control to whom you rent it. Is that a state or federal law?

I don’t want to live a wall away from screaming children, seems as if the rights of children have somehow become more important than the rights of the rest of the population.

Guess if I move into an apartment it will have to be a senior community!

It is a federal law.

@Judi Wow, I’d never heard of that before. When browsing Craigslist, I’ve seen multiple times “No pets, no children” So they could get in trouble for that??

Yep.

How ‘bout if you only had 1 bedroom apartments, you can’t be forced to allow children into a 1 bedroom, can you???

@Judi Maybe there is an exception on the child discrmination law for smaller units, or private homes. I believe the law also says no gender discrimination. I know one landlord who tried to get around that one by saying married couples only.

Marital status is also a protected class.

@rooeytoo I think you can restrict the number of people, but if you would allow two, you cannot say only two adults.

@judi Yes, so the owner discovered.

So in a one bedroom, a 16 year old would sleep with the parent, interesting.

What ever happened to the land of the free, is this political correctness gone rampant?

It is not the responsibility of the landlord to judge who sleeps where. An exception (believe it or not) is government owned subsidized housing.