Assuming you allow dogs and you charge a monthly pet fee which is just added on to the normal rent amount,...what does that monthly pet fee actually cover? (Lets assume a new tenant with a dog asked you this same question).

Does the monthly pet fee cover all damages created by the dog or just some minor dog damage? And who determines the difference between minor and major dog damages?

Ken,

Ken,

Pets aren't a protected class. Children are.

What Jason said.

Roy, you're trying to use logic comparing children to animals. This is the Govt we're talking about. Logic goes out the window. Forget logic; just get paid.

Why do I charge pet rent and a registration fee? Because the market will bear it. It is not intended to "cover" anything other than the privilege of having a pet.

But really, think about it: pets do all sorts of things you cannot easily account and bill for in any sane manner. That one piece of chewed up trim behind the bathroom door that you never see because when you open the door it gets hidden. The fleas they bring into the yard that don't become a problem until long after you've refunded the security deposit. The dander and fur that causes your cleaners to spend extra time. That ESA the tenant sneaks into another one of your rentals.

I look at is this way: if they will pay it, I will charge it. That's pretty much where the buck stops. Why do you charge $600 rent instead of $500 rent? Not because you "need" it, but because the market will pay it. Once your mortgages go away, you aren't going to drop you rents, even though you'll be making more money than ever before. It's not a question of need or covering expenses. It's a question of "what is this worth to someone and will they pay for it?"

I try not to overthink it.

In a fourplex that I made it a Dog Friendly place, three apartments have doggy doors that leads to a private fenced in grass area. The 4th unit has a private second story balcony with a doggy door. I get between $400 to $500 more a month for these apartments with dog areas and a weekly clean up service.

Sid,

As usual, you are the voice of reason and common sense. And I do not refund security deposits with anyone who has a dog.

MikeA,

The person I hired to mow the backyard was complaining about all of the dog poop in the backyard. No big deal, the lawnmower just mulches it with the grass clippings. Nature takes care of this issue. I did buy 3 bags of sand for the holes. Now, I can play miniature golf.

Pet related damages or issues:

-owners not cleaning it up; neighbors or mow guy complains. Interrupts your time/freedom

-increase wear on the flooring

-smells

-worst damage I have seen was from one cat. Used the trim has clawing post.

-dogs digging in the yard (as you noted)

-neighbors complaining about the dog barking... at all hours

Roy,

My lease is clear: Management is not responsible to determine who or what caused the damage. Damage by animals is considered the same as damage by a person.

I joke that maybe your kids chewed the woodwork!

We make A LOT of money on animals fees and people pay it without question - because sooo many LLs say NO PETS.

Last week I posted how I raised my income by several thousand$$$ per year with just the 3 leases and their animals.

Local LL charges $350 Non-refundable Registration per animal plus $50 per month per animal. His people pay it with blinking.

Not charging animal fees is leaving money on the table.

Never ever NEVER collect an animal DEPOSIT because you have to return an ANIMAL DEPOSIT even if the res owes rent.

BRAD

Changed the pet deposit to a fee instead many years ago. Lease states it is a non-refundable fee. I charge $100 per pet, although I typically just charge for one if they have two.

I have not started charging extra per month for pets tho. I am looking into that with the new opens I have.