On a one-year lease, 71 percent of the pet owners Rent.com surveyed said they would expect to spend $200 or less on a pet deposit, while nearly a third (29 percent) said they would typically spend more than $200. However, landlords have been trying to make up for the lost income by collecting costs elsewhere. For those landlords that don’t restrict on pet deposits, it can be difficult to figure out how to best set a policy for their rental. The deposit is your money. Making a house a home can be even easier when you have a pet, but it isn’t without its risks. If you charge a pet fee, you keep that money whether there’s pet damage or not. Pretend you have a prospective tenant and they have a pet. David Cox, chief executive or ARLA Propertymark explained, “This practice is a direct result of capping deposits under the tenant fees ban, as this problem didn’t exist before 1 June. “Tenants are already paying their deposits and are liable for damage at the end of the tenancy – this is where landlords can charge for damage from pets – not through hiking up rents.”. A landlord can require a deposit of up to one-half month’s current rent as a pet damage deposit, regardless of the type or number of pets. All rights reserved. (or a one time pet fee of $40) and increase the security deposit to $200. What does the deposit cover? If you move into a property that doesn’t allow pets, do not get a pet without your landlord’s permission. Today, that amount may be much higher. 7 Join the conversation . “Door-busters” are those puppies that are immediately sold to the first person who contacts once the puppies are born. Since the Tenant Fees Act 2019 came into force on 1 June 2019 landlords and letting agents in England are only able to take a tenancy deposit of up to five weeks rent for the duration of the tenancy. As a tenant, it is your job to prevent the risks and convince your landlord you will act responsibly. On a one-year lease, 71 percent of the pet owners Rent.com surveyed said they would expect to spend $200 … The deposit is to be held by the landlord as security for damage caused by a pet. Any damage to the property or extra cleaning that needs to be undertaken by the landlord can be deducted from your deposit. There will likely be a clause in your tenancy agreement that says you cannot keep pets. This is the wrong approach from landlords. or should it just be a fee and then non-refundable? If you have a pet, your landlord may also put in additional clauses in your tenancy agreement related to owning a pet, such as making sure it doesn’t foul in the garden or inside the property, not leaving it alone in the property for too long and cleaning the property thoroughly before the end of the tenancy. “Unfortunately, with changes to deposit rules, we’ve seen an increase in landlords charging ‘pet rents’ – adding £25 or £50 to monthly rents. How much deposit should one pay? © 2021 Associated Newspapers Limited. After all, small animals like hamsters or rabbits can be known to chew through wires; fish and aquariums pose a risk to a property if the water spills and landlords are less likely to know how more exotic animals, like lizards or snakes, will behave. 34 Replies « Previous; 1; 2; 3; Next » Re: how do you charge a pet fee Clare0 in. This means if the rent is $2,000 a month, the pet deposit would run you anywhere from $800 (40 percent of $2,000) to $1,700 (85 percent of $2,000). Avoid “door-buster” puppies at all cost. On top of your security deposit, a landlord or letting agent in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland can ask for an additional pet deposit, to cover any potential damage caused by the pet at the end of the tenancy. If you break this, it can be used as grounds for eviction. Let’s look at an example. Remember, the reason landlords aren’t keen on having pets in their property is because of the risks. Since the deposit is now capped, landlords and letting agents can instead charge you extra rent for having a pet, to mitigate any potential, additional damage caused, since the extra rent can be used by the landlord to pay for any repairs or refurbishment needed during or after the tenancy. Templeton, CA. Pet Deposits and Pet Fees. The deposit would later be repaid, minus any damage, at the end of a tenancy. Letting agents that display the ARLA Propertymark logo are professional and qualified to deal with all sorts of enquiries. There is no set pet deposit amount. “There’s been a long-standing campaign from the Dogs Trust, called Lets with Pets, which encouraged landlords and letting agents to take a couple of weeks extra deposit to cover the cost of a pet. You can challenge deductions if you think they're unreasonable. Pet deposits range from $100 to $300, but are generally proportional to the overall rent in your particular region. At the start of a tenancy, a landlord can ask for a security deposit (or damage deposit) – it can be Pets . Reasonable deductions could include: unpaid rent. On a one-year lease, 71 percent of the pet owners Rent.com surveyed said they would expect to spend $200 or less on a pet deposit, while nearly a third (29 percent) said they would typically spend more than $200. Your pets age, breed, behaviour, training; recent vaccinations, flea and working treatments and a reference from your vet and/or previous landlord will give your current landlord or letting agent a clear picture of what your pet will be like in the property. By providing a clear picture of how the pet will behave in the property, you can reassure your landlord that you are a responsible pet owner, and that there will be little or no damage to their property. Landlords and agents cannot ask for a higher Tenancy Deposit for renting with pets, but landlords and agents can charge higher rent if you do plan on having a pet. I would instead charge more (unspecified) for the deposit and have a non-refundable fee of a set amount for the privilege of having a pet on the premises. Some tenants remember the days when a pet deposit for a cat was as low as $50 or so. Top agricultural university accused of turning a blind eye to racism, sexism and homophobia, Downing Street in chaos as aide Boris Johnson appointed to save the Union quits after two weeks, Everything you need to know about Boris Johnson’s lockdown roadmap announcement, Ministers make historic move out of London as they relocate part of Whitehall to Wolverhampton, When hairdressers could open after lockdown restrictions are eased. Campaign group Generation Rent said it has started to see landlords charge tenants with “pet rents” at a cost between £25 and £50 per month – amounting to £300 or £600 per year. A tenant must be informed of any increased rent they may have to pay to have a pet, and the landlord can refuse a pet if you don’t agree to pay the higher rent. This amount is in addition to any security deposit that may also be required by a landlord3. Typically, a pet deposit has to be enough to cover theoretical damage to the rental unit caused by the renter’s pet or pets. The ban on allowing landlords and letting agents to take an extra deposit from tenants to cover the cost of a pet has resulting in landlords upping their rent charges – as it is now the only legal way for them to cover the potential additional cost of pets. Renting to Pet Owners 11 Asking for a pet reference Including a pet clause in your tenancy agreement Once you have decided to rent your property to a tenant with a pet you should include a pet clause in your tenancy agreement. Always read through your tenancy agreement to know what might affect how much deposit you get back. We have put together a list of do’s and don’ts to help your pets feel at home as quickly as you do. What your deposit could be kept for . 16,186 Views. “Tenants with pets are more likely to want a stable, long term home, which will benefit the landlord – and that’s a point tenants should make in their negotiations. Deposit amounts will vary depending on how many and what kinds of pets you have, the size, the … Your landlord should provide evidence of their costs if they decide to make deductions. Pet Fees – Fees, of course, are non-refundable, so they are usually lower than pet deposits and typically range from $100-$400. Yes, the landlord can charge a non-refundable pet fee and the security deposit.The non-refundable fee does not form part of the security deposit. Say you do a $200 pet "deposit" and the dog does $500 worth of damage you would be out the $300. Yes . … In this guide: No pets allowed | Pet CV and references | Meet the landlord | Pet deposit (Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland) | Pet rent (England) | Rabbits and hens | Follow the rules | Use an ARLA Propertymark Agent. The landlord can only charge a fee that is reasonable and is a genuine expectation of damages that will occur. In the house that we are in now, we also agreed to have the carpets cleaned at move-out, but did have to pay an extra £500 deposit for our dogs. But if you are going to do it anyway normal is $500 non-refundable fee and $30-$50 extra each month---if you do this you must have them sign a new lease to include the extra fees. 1 decade ago. Find out what fees can and cannot be charged by your landlord or letting agent, for new tenancy agreements made after June 1 2019 in England or 1 September in Wales. According to Lets with Pets, a CV and references for your pet will help fight your case for renting with a pet. I would still not allow a dog, especially a German Shepherd. Some landlords choose to charge a percentage of the rent for pet deposits. If your pet is well behaved and you come across as a responsible pet owner, it will help you convince them to allow your pet in the home. In general, there is no typical pet deposit. How do you determine the amount of this charge - is it a percentage of the monthly rent? What Is Pet Rent? The introduction of the Tenant Fees Act on 1 June saw agents and landlords banned from charging fees to tenants in the private rented sector. Your landlord should only keep money from your deposit if you have caused them financial loss. If you do, you should be able to ensure that you get your pet deposit back when you move out of your rental property. Having a pet can be a wonderful thing, but for renters, having a lovable animal companion could now see them charged a hefty sum. Landlords and even property managers sometimes make the mistake of charging a separate pet deposit (in addition to the security deposit), when the reality is a that a separately defined pet-specific deposit is not in the best interest of the property owner or the tenant. Pet rent typically ranges from $10 to $50 per pet, per month, depending on the type of animal. In our first house, we paid a deposit equal to one and a half month's rent. ©2017 Propertymark Ltd. trading as Propertymark, Please provide a location or business name, Your first stop for everything relating to property, Qualifications for property professionals, Pet deposit (Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland), Do’s and Don’ts For Moving House With Pets. Most rented properties may state ’no pets allowed‘ on the description - but be aware, this may not be set in stone. Pet fees are typically priced in the same range as a pet deposit, and may span from $100 to $300. But if you’re in a state that allows pet deposits and pet fees, you have some decisions to make. Before the tenant fees ban was introduced, landlords would often take an additional week’s rent to serve as a safety deposit against having pets … Pet deposit (Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland) On top of your security deposit, a landlord or letting agent in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland can ask for an additional pet deposit, to cover any potential damage caused by the pet at the end of the tenancy. So if you lower your standard to deposit in order to charge a pet deposit (and still stay under the deposit limit amount) you will be. Allowing pets opens up a wider audience, so it becomes a lot easier to find tenants, which can help minimise vacant periods. Good Luck! Legally, a pet deposit can’t be used to pay for anything other than damage caused by an animal. A breeder who follows a “ non-refundable” policy is a breeder to watch out for. This must be made clear to you in how the property is advertised, so you can make an informed decision. How much is a typical pet deposit? In Denver, Colorado you’re allowed to charge both of these fees, as long as the animal is not a service dog. You are also not allowed to keep them for business purposes (such as breeding or selling eggs). Sorry, there was a problem with your subscription. Speaking of the rising costs, Georgie Laming, campaigns manager at Generation Rent, told The Sun, “It’s already difficult for tenants to find a landlord who will allow a pet. It will also give both the tenant and landlord the chance to see if the property is suitable for the pet; for example that the property is large enough for a pet to run around, that there is space in the property for a cage, hutch or aquarium or that the pet will live in the property without chewing, scratching or soiling anything. “But this practice is now unlawful under the ban and landlords are charging additional rent as it’s the only lawful avenue to mitigate the risk of damage from pets.”, This article originally appeared on our sister site, Edinburgh Evening News. This would force renters to pay between £192 and £384 extra at the start of a tenancy, according to housing charity Shelter’s average weekly private rent estimate. Another study looked at short-term rental costs if you have a pet. Pets can lead to dirty conditions, lingering smells, pest infestations and complaints from neighbours. The deposit amount commonly ranges from $200-$500 per pet. However, the Tenant Fees Bill caps deposits at no more than five weeks of rent, meaning tenants are now being charged more each month. It’s common for pet fees and deposits to range between $100 and $500, but this range varies from state to state. No matter how much the pet deposit is you will be paying out of pocket to fix it after they leave. What should I ask for a pet deposit (refundable?) The first factor is the number and type of pets. On the average, most landlords ask for a refundable deposit of 0.25 to 0.5 month's rent. Pet Deposit As the term implies, a pet deposit is completely refundable, provided there is no pet-related damage to the property. Your pet deposit amount will vary based on a few factors, including the type of pets your tenant has, how many pets they have, and what size the pets are. There are two key factors that you should consider when setting your deposit amount. Best practice is to read and follow your tenancy agreement clearly. Above all, try to be a good tenant and a responsible pet owner. Your state’s law might also dictate how much you charge; however, charging somewhere between $200 and $500 for a one-time pet fee is pretty typical. Make sure there is a written list of any remaining damage so that there is no question about how much of your pet deposit you can get back. In general, there is no typical pet deposit. If you’re looking for a pet-friendly property, they should be able to find a property in your location that will allow pets or talk to the landlord about the possibility of keeping one.