Are you a landlord? If so, I have a question.

[a la izquierda]

I am moving, thanks to a swell new job. I have some dogs, they're all well beyond puppyhood, well trained, generally good boys. Anyhow, we're looking for housing to rent while we scope out the area for places to buy, figuring we'll rent for a year or two. I got a lead on a super place, and of course, we have no issue paying pet deposits. But the owner of this particular home is asking $1500 for a pet deposit, which we of course balked at.
Have any of you heard of such a high pet rent? I've paid $500 before for two dogs, but nowhere close to $1500.

[Sekhmets Daughter]

1. That does sound very high...

Usually when someone asks for an amount that is considerably more than the ordinary, what they are really saying is "I don't want ..."
in your case, your dogs. If you ever get bids to have work done and one comes in much higher than the others, it is not a sign of better quality, but a way for the contractor to say "I don't want the job unless you overpay me."

I'd contact a few local realtors and inquire as to the normal rate for pet deposits. If $1,500 is more than usual, you can be sure that even if you pay that amount, the landlord will be a pain in the ass.

[riderinthestorm]

2. I'm not a landlord presently but I have been and yes that's a steep deposit.

But after many years of having to deal with my place getting absolutely destroyed by pets - that a $500 pet deposit fee didn't come anywhere NEAR covering the damage - I have to admit that doesn't seem so outrageous anymore.

I literally had one tenant with ferrets (not allowed, this woman told me she only had 2 cats) who let them run free in the second bedroom. 2 years later when she moved out, it took us $5000 to repair the damage in that room alone - drywall, the studs behind the drywall, floorboards (the carpet! ha! absolutely shredded), the closet doors, electrical outlets - you name it, they'd chewed through it.

I've been out of it for 6 years now (and I thank gawd every day that I will NEVER be a landlord again) so I can't say for certain what the going rate is for a pet deposit but if I were renting, I think I'd charge $1500 now.



You are basically paying for past bad tenants. Sorry about that.