by Kimberly Jacobs

Created on: February 09, 2009   Last Updated: February 19, 2009

Pet owners should absolutely be charged a fee if they choose to rent an apartment with a pet. A property owner cannot assume that all pets are well behaved and well trained. Owning a pet is not a right, and paying an additional fee to an apartment owner is a responsibility that goes with the pet, much like food and veterinarian bills. As a responsible pet owner, I would gladly pay a pet fee or deposit if I were to rent an apartment. If apartment owners were not able to charge a pet fee, most would simply refuse to accept pets at all. It is simply a way to insure that the landlord is not stuck with the expense of cleaning or repair when the tenant leaves. While some people might argue that it is relatively simple to train a pet in a manner that makes damage much less likely, it is simply unrealistic to expect that all people will do so effectively. I would like to believe that all pet owners were that responsible, but in reality they are not. As the property manager for a family owned rental business, I learned this lesson the hard way. I had a tenant in an apartment who had, I thought, a dog. I felt sorry for him and did not charge a pet deposit. Seven months later, after he was evicted for non-payment of rent, I discovered that there was not one but four dogs in the apartment. From the look of the carpet, the dogs did not get much outside time at all. The damages were substantial and my losses great. Even if I had charged a pet deposit, it would not have been enough to cover the damages. I would have sworn, upon renting to the tenant, that he was a fine upstanding man who would be true to his word and take care of his cherished animal. Instead, I am out thousands of dollars. Other tenants must also be considered when living with a pet in an apartment. Animals that need outdoor time, such as dogs, will need to share space with other tenants in a manner that will not be destructive or disturbing. Dogs will often dig or defecate in places that will necessitate attention from the property management afterwards. Landscaping materials are not free and it is often impossible to determine which animal may have caused the damage, leaving the full cost to be borne by the property owner. It is unfortunate that a few irresponsible pet owners cost the rest of us money, but it should be considered a part of the costs of pet ownership. If you cannot afford the costs, then it is perhaps irresponsible to be a pet owner. Do whatever you like on your own property, but when renting from someone else, remember that they bear the full costs of maintenance and repair and set the terms and rental agreements accordingly. It is not unreasonable to expect that someone would want to protect their investment.

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