How do you talk your landord into allowing you to have a pet?

[Skyye]

I moved into this place almost a year ago, (April to be exact) and when I signed the lease agreement, the landlord was very explicit about a few things. No parking on the grass, rent do by a certain day, no pets, and I pay utilities. That was about it. I have never had a problem with paying rent on time, and have always taken care of the property. I have only had a handful of parties and noise has never been an issue. Throughout the entire time I have been here, I have only had to call my landlord once because it rained and there was water in the basement. Coming up on the year, I think I have shown that I am a reliable tenant and genuinely care about the property. Do you think that it would be hard to talk the landlord into allowing me to have a small animal?? How do you think I should go about asking?? Have any of you had a similar situation, and how did you overcome it?? I was thinking about offering some kind of pet deposit for any damages that may occur.

 

[alent1234]

if this is a private home that you are renting can he legally not allow pets?

 

[sdifox]

by moving

 

[BoomerD]

if this is a private home that you are renting can he legally not allow pets?

There is no legal "right" to own pets...and the property owner is 100% within his rights to restrict such things.

OP, MAYBE if you offer to pay a significant "pet deposit" your landlord will allow a pet...and maybe, if that pet deposit is "non-refundable" your chances will improve...but don't hold your breath. Pets have been known to cause a lot of damage...and landlords are usually pretty non-negotiable about this one.

 

[JimmiG]

That's the point of an agreement. You agree on certain things.

 

[lxskllr]

if this is a private home that you are renting can he legally not allow pets?

I think they can set just about any terms they want, private or not. I wouldn't want dogs in my property, cause I hate dogs. Just knowing it was there would piss me off... Unless it was a greyhound. I /might/ accept one of those after a personal interview with the dog :^D

 

[NutBucket]

if this is a private home that you are renting can he legally not allow pets?

I've never heard of a law explicitly allowing pets (assume non-service animal).

The landlord is free to set whatever rules he/she wants within reason. OP agreed to them when the lease was signed. OP can certainly ask but I would say there's about zero legal precedent working in his (the OP's) favor.

 

[NetWareHead]

if this is a private home that you are renting can he legally not allow pets?

Pets are not a protected class. Although I remember one moron who started a thread in ATOT about this same topic. Except he got a doctor's note declaring the pet to be a service animal because he had depression or something retarded like that. Moved the pet into his apartment anyway despite the landlord's disapproval.

OP: Ask your landlord. My tenants did and I ended up charging them $50 more per month and inserted a pet rider into their lease. They are obligated to steam clean the carpets when they vacate the premises. Both of us are happy.

 

[ConwayJim]

Landlord can ask you not to have pets, but can't stop you. It's part of your rights of being a tenant.

 

[highland145]

Landlord can ask you not to have pets, but can't stop you. It's part of your rights of being a tenant.

Wrong, at least in S.C. Don't know about places like CA.

 

[BoomerD]

Landlord can ask you not to have pets, but can't stop you. It's part of your rights of being a tenant.

Are you naturally this stupid, or do you have to work at it?

 

[DaveSimmons]

Landlord can ask you not to have pets, but can't stop you. It's part of your rights of being a tenant.

It's in the constitution!

At least the ursine front limbs part -- see the second amendment.

 

[darkewaffle]

You can definitely restrict pets as a landlord. If you have a pet anyway you aren't going to be breaking some "no pet" law, but I'd imagine you'd be at risk for whatever penalty comes with violating your lease.

My parents own some rental properties, initially they said no pets but now they allow them to some extent. Mom insists on meeting the pets (lol) and will charge an additional pet deposit fee as well as $25 more per month for one pet and $10 for each additional pet if they're approved.

I love my pets to death but there's no denying hair gets everywhere and how difficult it can be to get certain smells out. If he's adamant about no pets then there's probably no changing his mind. Though there's no harm in asking him politely if he'd consider it with appropriate compensation.

 

[vshah]

if faced with the option of either finding another tenant, or keeping a known good one + additional deposit & riders, I don't think a reasonable landlord would deny a pet.

 

[Jeff7]

I'll second the $$$ thing - most likely an extra damages deposit, and possibly high rent per month.
My landlord wanted somewhere around 5-10% more per month if I'd get a pet. The pet's a tenant who may sometimes decide to pee in random locations. Replacing drywall or shampooing rugs costs money.

 

[ConwayJim]

Actually tenants have a lot of rights, more so than land-lords, not saying it's right/wrong

 

[NutBucket]

The loft in my apartment still smells slightly of cat urine on hot days. Was much more noticeable when we first moved in but everything else about the place is great so I can't complain. Plus, we don't spend much time up there.

 

[Raizinman]

As a landlord, I've had many tennants sneak in a cat, dog, snake, turtle or other pets. It is virtually impossible to sneak in a pet and hide it. The carpets, walls, lawn and other places will show evidence of it. I will hold back the security deposit to clean or replace carpets besides other damage. I will occasionally allow a pet but require a deposit that is equivilant to the amount of damage I believe they can do. A big dog will be 2 months rent security deposit whereas a small cat might be only a 1/2 month security deposit.

Pets cause problems and landlords don't like them. It's difficult to get the smells out and most tennants have the mindset of who cares, I'm only renting. I can't begin to tell you the damage pets have done in my houses. Often the security deposit will not begin to cover the damage, the time the house is vacant and the smell. It just isn't worth it.

 

[Gibson486]

It's not legal to bar pets from rental property, however, it is legal to agree on the lease that you agree not to have pets. It you get a pet, you break the lease because you broke your agreement. I have delt with tenants like ConwayJim. They have this, "oh, we are the tenants, you cannot do that" attitude. They are evicted within 3 months.

The OP has the right idea. Just ask. When tenants do this, I reconsider and if they agree to the newer terms (higher rent, or just a bigger deposit), I terminate that current lease and start a new one with the new terms.

 

[dave_the_nerd]

Brought my cat with me. My landlord already had two. They get along alright.

 

[BurnItDwn]

What kind of pet were you thinking?
And once you decide what pet, then ask?

If it's a turtle or iguana or a bird or something that lives in a cage ... they are more likely to give you the OK than if it's something capable of mass damage ....

 

[ConwayJim]

I guess laws differ from place to place:

"...Q6: The landlord says I must either move out or get rid of my pet; Do I?

A6: Only if the pet is dangerous, causes allergic reactions or causes problems for other tenants or the landlord, must you get rid of your pet or consider moving elsewhere as per Landlord application to terminate tenancy based on animals.

Even if you signed a lease with a "no pets" clause, if the pet is not a problem for anybody they can not enforce it; such no pets clauses are invalid under the law.

You do not have to move or get rid of the pet unless the Board issues a written order to do so."

http://www.ontariotenants.ca/law/law.phtml#Q6

With that being said, we have a great land lord, and has no issue with our dog (which we got 1 year after our lease)

 

[Gibson486]

As a landlord, I've had many tennants sneak in a cat, dog, snake, turtle or other pets. It is virtually impossible to sneak in a pet and hide it. The carpets, walls, lawn and other places will show evidence of it. I will hold back the security deposit to clean or replace carpets besides other damage. I will occasionally allow a pet but require a deposit that is equivilant to the amount of damage I believe they can do. A big dog will be 2 months rent security deposit whereas a small cat might be only a 1/2 month security deposit.

Pets cause problems and landlords don't like them. It's difficult to get the smells out and most tennants have the mindset of who cares, I'm only renting. I can't begin to tell you the damage pets have done in my houses. Often the security deposit will not begin to cover the damage, the time the house is vacant and the smell. It just isn't worth it.

Dam, lucky. In MA, we can only charge a max of 1 months rent for the security deposit. You have no idea how many times a tenant left and the damages were more than the deposit. Then, people wonder why lots of landlords do shitty patchwork...there you go.

 

[steppinthrax]

I allowed my tennets to have pets, I charged an additional $40.00 per month on their rent....

 

[highland145]

http://www.landlord.com/security-deposit-law-guide.htm

May help you. Love the states with no maximum pet deposit.

So far, can't find anything in SC law that says the landlord can/cannot prohibit pets.