Is it legal for an apt/townhome/duplex complex to chg a monthly rental fee for dog/cat in addition to deposit?

Question

I have paid the required pet deposit of $450.00 and half is non refundable. In addition to that I was required to pay an additional fee 0f $25.00 monthly as "pet rental" for the duplex. I think this is totally outrageous because I am already paying rent for the place on a monthly basis.

Answer 1

The landlord can charge whatever he wants for the most part as long as it is in the lease you signed.  He could charge you any fees as long as it doesn't read something like "A feee for being X "  Where X is a protected class like a women or race.

Answer 2

Of course it’s legal. They don’t have to accept pets & you don’t have to have one so if they choose to allow animals and you choose to own one, they’re allowed to charge you accordingly.

You know that saying one bad apple spoils the bunch? Well, you’re paying an extra fee for all of those irresponsible owners who let their pets cause excess damage to the property in the past.  It sucks, but the landlord wants to make sure they have extra to cover the additional damage some pets leave behind. Though I agree pet rent is stupid, it’s pretty common.

Answer 3

Absolutely. I paid $350 for my Pomeranian to stay with me as a deposit. That's more than I paid for him! And I also pay $10 a month in addition to rent.

Answer 4

It is legal and normal.  The security dep will go towards damage and deoderizing (The next tenant may be allergic).  The rent is to cover extra water, trash, sewage, etc.

Answer 5

Yes, it is perfectly legal and an acceptable practice.

You pay rent to occupy the premises. You want pets, you pay additional pet rent for your pets to occupy the premises.

Pets cause additional wear and tear, leave odors and dander behind and cause damage to the property.

If you do not want to pay the pet rent ... move.

Answer 6

i've never heard of raising the rent because of a pet.

Unless there's a clause like that on your contract then you should go have a talk with your landlord

Answer 7

If you have signed a contract with all of the terms included they cannot legally change the fee.  If you are month to month then they can change the fee at anytime.

Answer 8

Yes, most places in VA charge this to have a pet.  The deposit is for the carpet cleaning and defleaing that needs to be done after a tennant leaves with a pet, the monthly fee is charged as a fee for you to have the pet there.  Perfecly legal read your lease.

Answer 9

Landlords can basically request what ever they want to allow a pet.  Allowing pets is not required and they are doing you a favor by allowing them at all.  They have a right to protect their property.

That is actually pretty cheep. Its not unheard of to charge $1,000 pet dep and $100/ additional rent per month.

Answer 10

If it's in your lease, you have to pay it and it's perfectly legal. If you don't like the terms of the lease, you shouldn't have signed it.

Answer 11

I would check over your contract again. If it doesn't actively specify an ongoing monthly "pet charge" (which I have never heard of), then I would refuse to pay it. The owner of the flat might be concerned about any damage caused by the pet, but if so, then they usually state "no pets allowed" or something. Then they keep all your deposit (for made up rubbish damage "caused" by your pet)