How to get out of paying most of pet deposit

igora_soma
igora_soma Posts: 486
edited October 2024 in Chit-Chat
Hey!

Random question, but thought I'd get the community's opinion! I am looking to adopt a dog, but my apartment requires I pay $300 non-refundable plus $300 refundable pet deposit for a dog. This is quite steep...

Any advice on how to either lower the amount I pay or get out of paying it all together??

Thank you!! :)
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Replies

  • skylark94
    skylark94 Posts: 2,036 Member
    Move.

    Seriously though, I think the only way to avoid those fees is if it's a certified service animal.
  • channa007
    channa007 Posts: 419 Member
    Don't tell em... lol
  • mommared53
    mommared53 Posts: 9,543 Member
    I'd be interested in seeing suggestions about that for the next time I move. I have two cats.
  • gennybunny1
    gennybunny1 Posts: 209
    As far as I know there is no legal way to get out of paying. You could try to negotiate with your rental company. I have always had to pay for my puppies and it does suck, but I love my girls.
    Sorry
  • ZebraHead
    ZebraHead Posts: 15,207 Member
    Get a stuffed dog?

    Sorry - I don't know of a legal way to circumvent the landlord policy.
  • UpEarly
    UpEarly Posts: 2,555 Member
    Back when I was still a renter, I traded my landlord chores for a waiver of my pet deposit. She allowed us to keep our three dogs without a deposit in exchange for doing handiwork around the rented house (painting, repairing a running toilet, patching nail holes in dry wall, etc). She always paid for the supplies and my husband and I did the work.

    She ended up with a much nicer property and was able to raise the rent for the next tenant when we moved out.
  • ReginasHorror
    ReginasHorror Posts: 424 Member
    HOLY CRAP. You should move! No joke, that's not ok. My apartment waved my pet fee when I first moved in and when i adopted a new dog they didn't make me pay at all, and they only charge me 25 bucks a month for pet rent. :/ You should talk to them and see what they are willing to do for you if you promise to resign your lease or something...
  • circuitsix
    circuitsix Posts: 12
    Ask them about the policy and hint towards another location that has reduced deposits... sometimes the possibility of losing a customer is motivation enough to get them to lower the price. Just be tasteful about it :)
  • Elizabeth_C34
    Elizabeth_C34 Posts: 6,376 Member
    Usually, apartment rental contracts require you to agree to the pet policy. There is no legal way out of it.
  • kristilovescake
    kristilovescake Posts: 669 Member
    Eh, adopting a dog you might just want to pay the deposit because if they find out, they can kick you out with pretty much no advanced notice (you're breaking the lease) and you have no idea if it's going to ruin the carpet/trim board/doors/etc. so if you pay the deposit you won't get screwed when you go to move and ask for your deposit back. You also don't know if it will be loud, and you don't want the landlord to find out via a neighbor complaint of barking.

    $300 NR does seem a little steep, but I would ask them why it's so high. They might have to completely replace the carpet due to potential fleas and dog scents (an excuse I received from one apartment before) or it might be completely redundant.

    I actually didn't rent at one apartment when I had cats because they had a $500 NR deposit, even if the cats didn't do any damage at all. Annoying.
  • voluptuous_veggie
    voluptuous_veggie Posts: 476 Member
    Seriously, if you think that $300 is steep, then you shouldn't be getting a pet. I promise you, if that animal gets sick, you'll be paying more than that for vet bills. Or, are you planning on not properly caring for your pet? If you are planning on having a pet, you need to budget a few thousand dollars a year to care for that pet. If you don't use it all, then great, but you should always be prepared. Otherwise, you shouldn't have an animal.
  • Elizabeth_C34
    Elizabeth_C34 Posts: 6,376 Member
    Seriously, if you think that $300 is steep, then you shouldn't be getting a pet. I promise you, if that animal gets sick, you'll be paying more than that for vet bills. Or, are you planning on not properly caring for your pet? If you are planning on having a pet, you need to budget a few thousand dollars a year to care for that pet. If you don't use it all, then great, but you should always be prepared. Otherwise, you shouldn't have an animal.

    This also.
  • Forneil
    Forneil Posts: 15
    I never understood charging more for an animal. Children do way more destruction than a animal ever would.
  • sblair77
    sblair77 Posts: 355 Member
    I work for a property management company and we do audits once a month where someone goes around and checks for pets and make sure we have a deposit.

    The reason is that every apartment that has a pet has to get new carpet to be leased to someone else. The non-refundable portion is to pay for the carpet. The other portion is in case they chew the baseboards or windowsills.

    Sucks but $600 doesn't seem that bad.

    I have 2 dogs and 1 cat and had to pay $750 for first pet and $350 for each additional.

    Maybe you can find out if they will allow you to do a payment plan? Like an extra $100 a month for the next 6 months.
  • VeganGal84
    VeganGal84 Posts: 938 Member
    I've never understood the non-refundable part of pet deposits. Shouldn't the pet deposit be used to repair stuff that the animal destroys, and if the animal destroys NOTHING, shouldn't you get ALL the money back?
  • rockerbabyy
    rockerbabyy Posts: 2,258 Member
    you cant really get out of it legally. you could not tell them, but then if they find out theyll charge you anyway. you could talk to them to see about lowering it, but it probably wont happen
    the last apartment we lived in wanted a $400 deposit for out two cats (half refundable) PLUS a $50 pet rent ($25 per cat). since we only planned on being there a month or two they worked with us and only charged $200 deposit and $25 pet rent...
  • Katemarie34
    Katemarie34 Posts: 144 Member
    Well- actually just found this out from the girl i'm living with.... She got a companionship letter from her Doctor saying she needs this dog, and when I was talking to the property manager she said that by law with that note they couldn't charge her. They were trying to get me to pay the fee... NOPE! but, i'd see if that is something you could do if you want to get out of it all together
  • nolachick
    nolachick Posts: 3,278 Member
    yikes thats a lot! what kind of dog are u getting? sometimes when they are small and can do less damage they negotiate the deposit
  • livnlite
    livnlite Posts: 520
    Wow .. I'm thinking they have set the limit that high to really discourage pet's in the building. You have to admit, not all pet owners are responsible adults . Pets can do a lot of damage, to the residence, the yard, and surrounding areas (sidewalks, common rooms and areas). It's only logical, that fee is to help with clean up costs. It is near impossible to collect after damage is done, that's why they want a collective fund right up front.

    If you don't like the policy .. or any policy for that matter, you will have to find other accomodations.
  • sallyv22
    sallyv22 Posts: 22
    You really can't get out of it. And, erring on the side of caution most "pounds", adoption agencies, and Humane Societys are calling the landlord/property owner to ensure that they are aware of your plans to add to your family, and making sure (if they are responsible) that tha duck is in the row.

    The reason for the high, non- refundable pets deposits is ( as stated above) the fleas and fumigation. Also, carpets and padding should ALWAYS be replaced after a pet owning tenant moves out. My son is severly allergic to cats, and cannot be around cat hair or dander without triggering his asthma. So, even if the cat ( and for some people its ANY dander) is no longer in the area my son is, but if there is this allergin... he is hooked up to his nebulizer, and we are potentialy headed to the hospital.
  • paravision
    paravision Posts: 148
    Seriously, if you think that $300 is steep, then you shouldn't be getting a pet. I promise you, if that animal gets sick, you'll be paying more than that for vet bills. Or, are you planning on not properly caring for your pet? If you are planning on having a pet, you need to budget a few thousand dollars a year to care for that pet. If you don't use it all, then great, but you should always be prepared. Otherwise, you shouldn't have an animal.
    My BF has a do9g. Hes always spending on food, vet, ect....
  • igora_soma
    igora_soma Posts: 486
    I work for a property management company and we do audits once a month where someone goes around and checks for pets and make sure we have a deposit.

    The reason is that every apartment that has a pet has to get new carpet to be leased to someone else. The non-refundable portion is to pay for the carpet. The other portion is in case they chew the baseboards or windowsills.

    Sucks but $600 doesn't seem that bad.

    I have 2 dogs and 1 cat and had to pay $750 for first pet and $350 for each additional.

    Maybe you can find out if they will allow you to do a payment plan? Like an extra $100 a month for the next 6 months.

    Thanks for weighing in! It's helpful to hear from someone who works/understand it from the "inside" - I've been looking to get a dog for a while now and I know I'll have to get pet insurance that that they cost a lot, but they are just really wonderful companions :)
  • igora_soma
    igora_soma Posts: 486
    Thanks for your feedback/opinions! I was thinking of asking my doctor for a note. I'm still doing a lot of research into it and so all of this has helped a lot!

    There are quite a few people with dogs in my building and they are all larger. They do have a 60lb weight limit. I'll have to read over my lease again to see what it says. I'm thinking if I get a dog that weighs less than 20 lbs I'll try to negotiate for a cat rate which is $400, half of which is refundable. I understand that they want to be able to fix things that are damanged. Although when I moved into my apartment there was a ton of damage done by a cat and they hadn't fixed it....

    The next place I'll move to will have to have a good pet policy for sure!
  • ninerbuff
    ninerbuff Posts: 49,042 Member
    Hey!

    Random question, but thought I'd get the community's opinion! I am looking to adopt a dog, but my apartment requires I pay $300 non-refundable plus $300 refundable pet deposit for a dog. This is quite steep...

    Any advice on how to either lower the amount I pay or get out of paying it all together??

    Thank you!! :)
    Well either move or don't get the dog. If I was and owner of the building, I be appalled that you don't want to abide by the rules when it comes to pets. Pets can do some major damage and if the carpet or floors get ruined, then $300 dollars ain't gonna cover it. BUCK UP. If you want the dog, pay the deposits.
  • ninerbuff
    ninerbuff Posts: 49,042 Member
    I never understood charging more for an animal. Children do way more destruction than a animal ever would.
    Really? Then I guess you've never had to replace base boards, carpet, padding and de urinize a place that was abused by a pet owner trying to get it ready for a new tenant. Walls are easy and don't cost the same to repair.
  • LaComadreja14
    LaComadreja14 Posts: 277 Member
    Hey!

    Random question, but thought I'd get the community's opinion! I am looking to adopt a dog, but my apartment requires I pay $300 non-refundable plus $300 refundable pet deposit for a dog. This is quite steep...

    Any advice on how to either lower the amount I pay or get out of paying it all together??

    Thank you!! :)


    Pretend to have gone blind and adopt a service dog?
  • calibri
    calibri Posts: 439 Member
    I never understood charging more for an animal. Children do way more destruction than a animal ever would.
    Agreed. I've lived in several different places with my cat and had references that could attest to my cat never urinating, clawing, or defecating on anything in our units; however, I've seen countless units at my friend's complex which has been wrecked by kids (holes in walls, tears in carpet, stains, tracks everywhere). It's dreadful trying to find a new place to rent because everyone makes a blanket statement of no pets because of careless owners. I can provide evidence my cat has all of his vaccinations and is box trained; I clip his nails regularly and play with him on regular intervals so he does not get bored and ruin things. I've known several people who can't say their kids are as well taken care of as my 'kid'.
  • sallyv22
    sallyv22 Posts: 22
    Yeah... but most kids dont have fleas... nor are the future residents allergic to them. Also when a child has an accident, or writes on the walls, etc... Most of us can relate. We were all kids at one point, and most likely did the same things. I dont think many people were felines or canines 10 + years ago, and are less likely patient to deal with them.
  • livnlite
    livnlite Posts: 520
    I never understood charging more for an animal. Children do way more destruction than a animal ever would.
    Agreed. I've lived in several different places with my cat and had references that could attest to my cat never urinating, clawing, or defecating on anything in our units; however, I've seen countless units at my friend's complex which has been wrecked by kids (holes in walls, tears in carpet, stains, tracks everywhere). It's dreadful trying to find a new place to rent because everyone makes a blanket statement of no pets because of careless owners. I can provide evidence my cat has all of his vaccinations and is box trained; I clip his nails regularly and play with him on regular intervals so he does not get bored and ruin things. I've known several people who can't say their kids are as well taken care of as my 'kid'.

    Can't deny kids do damage too .. but, you can't deny that animals can do a TON of damage. A few cases in many is not considered typical.

    I think typically, having an animal in a home can result in damages or uncleanliness. "Accidents" on the carpet, aren't as easily cleaned up as you'd think. Sure you can have the carpet cleaned, but what about what has soaked through into the underlay and further into the plywood under the carpet? THAT is not so easily remedied. Those are problem areas that will exude odours for years. Then there is the also usually an abundance of claw or bite marks and shedded hair which will often limit the 'rentability' of a property due to allergens.

    Typically, a damage deposit is provided at the time a house or apartment is rented. A typical rental deposit is typically returned to the tenant when they move out, or it is utilized in the last month's rent, IF there is no apparent damage or costs of cleaning up their mess .. THIS deposit is to cover the typical damages that a family can do to a property. The OP is talking about a further NON refundable deposit for animals...due to the seen and the unforeseen remnants of their stay.
  • voluptas63
    voluptas63 Posts: 602 Member
    Am I the only one that finds this extremely tacky? You're living in a place by choice. It's a part of your lease. Pets are expensive. Deal with it. If you don't like it, move when your lease is done and get a place in a more pet friendly environment.
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