John Gall shot me a question:
Is the amount paid as a pet deposit the only amount allowed to be used for pet related damage, or is it just a safety measure expecting that damage will occur. So if you have a $1500 deposit + $400 Pet deposit and $500 in damages, can you take the overage out of the general damage deposit? Similarly, if one party of say three other adults in the house who are on the lease owns the pet and paid the deposit for the pet and signed the addendum allowing the pet, are they the only one responsible for damages or can all tenants be held responsible for pet damage?
I am not sure there is a correct answer here, but here is how I would handle this:
- The pet deposit is in addition to the standard deposit. I look at it that I don’t care where the damages came from. As in John’s example, I am taking $500 out of their $2000 deposit. Some subtle differences is that the pet deposit does not accrue interest like the standard deposit. Also, some of it can be non-refundable for cleaning carpets or such after the pet.
- I tell roommates (and they must be reminded) that they all rise and fall together. They can be more difficult to work with. I am not going to worry or keep track of who paid what and who’s dog it is and such. They need to work it out amongst themselves. They are all on the lease and took that risk. If there is a hole in the wall upon move-out, I don’t care who made the hole. I am taking it off the deposit.
Now, maybe I am wrong in how I do it (if so, please drop me a comment on this post), but I have never had much complaint.
3 comments
#1John GallApril 8, 2009, 9:47 pm
Thanks Scott,
Very helpful to see how others handle this.
#2mls mnApril 15, 2009, 1:11 pm
Thanks for this info regarding pets and investment property Scott
#3John GallNovember 26, 2009, 6:57 pm
As a follow up to this. A lesson I learned. NEVER return the pet deposit quickly. My tenants wanted to move early and they were a pain in the butt. They had to be chased for rent all the time. During the walk through they had just shampooed the carpets so everythign smelled great. They needed cash to get to their next place and out of mine so I returned the pet deposit and regular deposit after deducting obvious non-pet related stuff. My new tenants start moving stuff in and complain about uring smell in the kids bedrooms. I go over and don’t smell anything until I start measuring for carpet. Disturbing the carpet by kneeling, walking caused what I can only imagine to be dry urine dust to rise and cause then entire room to small like urine. Upon pulling up the carpet the wood floor and underside and pad were totally stained with a year of pee from the two dogs. I replaced two rooms of carpet and kilz’d the subfloor. When I took them to consiliation court I gave the judge pictures and carpet invoices. She said that because I gave the deposit back after a walkthorugh I gave up my right to damages. I COMPLETELY disagree as I usually don’t pull up carpet during walkthough’s. So be warned. Keep the deposit until you are positive about damage. No good deed goes unpunished in Anoka county.
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