When Samfirst applied for an apartment, he knew he would have to pay rent. What he didn’t expect, was to pay rent for Brownie, his furry, cuddly bulldog. He wondered if this was the norm – do people really pay rent for their dogs? Is pet rent a thing?
Yes, pet rent is a thing. And so are pet deposits, and pet fees. What should you be paying? We’ll share the ins and outs of pet expenses, so that you’ll have this information when you consider apartment rental. Something to look into –apartment deposits are state law dependent, so familiarize yourself with the specific laws in your state. It’s great to be informed before applying for that new place.
Now let’s get into the specifics on possible expenses when renting with a pet.
1. Pet Deposits
When Sam
talked with his landlord about renting an apartment, the landlord wanted a
security deposit as well as a pet deposit. What’s the difference? A security
deposit covers any damages to the property caused by you, the tenant, over the
period of your lease. A pet deposit is an additional deposit to cover the
damages caused by having a pet in the apartment. Some landlords share that pets
cause damage beyond normal wear and tear, such as door or screen damage.
2.
Pet Rent
What about pet rent? When renting his first
apartment, Sam paid a pet deposit, but wasn’t asked to pay rent for Brownie. However,
for his most recent apartment, Sam was asked to pay a pet deposit, as well as
pet rent. Sam wondered if it was legal to charge pet rent, and if he should pay
it. After looking into it, Sam discovered charging pet rent is legal, and as
long as there is no discriminatory reason for the pet rent, landlords are able
to ask for and enforce the payment of pet rent. Why do landlords ask for pet rent? Many landlords indicate that pets increase the wear and tear on an apartment – especially on carpet or flooring, and landscaping. A monthly rent amount helps them recover any additional expenses caused by allowing a pet in an apartment.
What can you expect to pay in pet rent? Typically, pet rent is under $50/month and is in addition to the monthly rent for the apartment itself. Some properties are designed with pets in mind, providing pet parks, pet friendly landscaping and more space. These additional offerings may increase the pet rent you’re expected to pay.
3. Pet Fees
What is the difference between pet rent and pet fees? Typically, a pet fee may be something a landlord asks a tenant to pay when first moving into an apartment. It is not the same as a deposit, as it is not returned upon move out. Landlords may ask for a traditional security deposit, and a non-refundable, one-time pet fee.
Now that you’re up to date on possible expenses involved with renting an apartment with your pet, you may be looking for ways to make payments easily and quickly. Landlord Software, such as Schedule My Rent, enables tenants to pay rent – both traditional and pet rent - online. Schedule My Rent makes it easy for tenants to pay one-time pet fees or deposits as well. With a simple sign up process, through an excellent tenant portal, your fees and rent are paid electronically through your bank account. You know your rent, and fees, are received by your landlord, as Schedule My Rent provides you with a receipt of payment every time.
Landlords love the simplicity and flexibility when they collect rent online. They are able to easily communicate to tenants regarding rent payments, one-time fees and deposits. They love knowing payments are automatically sent to their account without the hassle of paper mail and deposits. With Schedule My Rent’s 45 day free trial offer, it’s a great time to sign-up with Schedule My Rent for all your payment needs!
No comments:
Post a Comment