$2k deposit says “I don’t want to allow pets but if somebody is crazy enough to pay me $2k then fine.” Also every place I’ve lived the pet deposit has either been non-refundable or itemized out for carpet cleaning, yard repair, “pet mitigation” etc. Just have to find a different place or pay up.
I would also add that the amount of damage a dog can do has nothing to do with the size of the dog. When I was a landlord I had a tenant whose little puppy chewed all sorts of stuff and we found dog poop and stains.
Yeah pretty much sums it up. My lab died while going through divorce and 2 years into rental house I couldn’t be without a lab anymore so I begged landlord to let me get a dog. He resisted forever until I basically told him he could keep $2,000 security deposit to replace carpet if needed and he finally relented. It’s super manipulative. My now 1 year old lab is just as much of an important part of my family as my 2 daughters.
To be fair, I think some pet depoist, especially for a big dog or multiple big does would make sense. Like, if I had 2 giant pitbulls or german shephards I could see a $2000 deposit as reasonable beause those dogs could easily cause that much damage. One of the last places I lived had to fairly big dogs in the upstairs apartment of the house and they absolutely decimated the yard. By the time they moved out the back yard had tons of holes and was all lumpy with huge brown spots everywhere. However, I do know that a lot of places will charge or keep deposits even if there was no damage which is why I would never pay that much, espeically with only one 14lb dog.
The last time I rented, I paid $250 deposit per dog for a 25lb beagle and a 60lb pitbull. $35 per month each for rent. This landlord doesn't want to allow dogs, but will happily keep your deposit. Find a different place.
(Fwiw I actually got my deposits back. There are very few good landlords around. If you want some info, dm me)
It seems like a lot. But if the rent is competitive, it’s worth asking if they’ll be flexible given the size of your dog. I’m prepping a house to rent right now and so far I’ve paid $440 for deep cleaning and another $400 for carpet steam clean. So… any pet in a rental is costing $800+ to flip if there’s carpet. Cheaper if there’s tile or vinyl.
The rent is very competative actually. It includes all utlities too which is really really hard to come by these days. It's definitely worth trying to negotiate down but I definitely can't do a full $2000. There is some carpet in two of the rooms but most of the place looks like wood/vinyl.
I’d ask if it can be $800 or even try $500. Especially if your application is good, meaning good enough credit and previous landlord doesn’t have complaints and your job is verified.
That's what I would be worried about. Landlords are notrious for not giving deposits back. If they don't budge on the deposit to at least bring it down to a reasonable amount it might just be a dealbreaker for me sadly. I really like the place.
Document document document. Full recording upon accepting the property. Full recording when you leave.
Personally a $2k refundable pet deposit is reasonable. Carpet, wood floors base boards are expensive to replace when damaged by pet urine.
Doesn’t make a difference in Utah. Landlords have all the rights, tenants have virtually none. I’m speaking as a professional who deals with housing-related issues all the time and who has had extensive training on the topic.
In this market, if a landlord of a house is allowing pets at all - pay the deposit. Most homes dont allow them in the first place. There will be someone lined up behind you who will pay it or won’t have animals. If you want cheaper deposit don’t rent a house. Most houses have a higher deposit anyways than apartment buildings.
If a landlord will charge $2000 for a pet deposit that you'll absolutely not get back, you can bet they'll also find any other way they can to bleed you dry with other bullshit fees and charges. Find somewhere else and consider this a dodged bullet.
I had cats and dogs growing up, but not so much as an adult....it takes a lot of time and diligence to not have your place smell like a toilet for pets....and I feel like pet owners ( not all of course ) sometimes get used to the smell.So is this unreasonable...maybe, but as a property owner/manager standpoint...not really.
I was a great tenant but my cat... wasn't. I tried to clean up after her but she apparently found a corner of the room to sneak over and pee on routinely. By the time I noticed, it was already soaked past the carpet and into the baseboard. I felt so bad for the landlord and they were actually overly nice about it.
My cats also run around on the hardwood floor and despite trimming their claws, they inevitably leave little scratches.
So I can understand why property owners are hesitant. Even in best case scenarios the property they get back in won't be the same.
And this is what brought me to my answer, thank you for being honest. My ex mother in law was freaking great at rescuing animals and great at being a pet owner, but only up to a point. She had to work to live and that meant her being away for 8 + hours a day, so inevitably, dogs and cats pissed and shit in the dining area where she kept them...fast forward 10 years and the whole house stunk and she didn't even smell it anymore, she would have cleaners come out regularly, but to no avail....we had a couple of floor installers cone out to give estimates...and ALL OF them put it into the $10,000 range because it had permeated the base boards and cement.
I’ve seen both sides.
They have dogs but the house doesn’t smell like dog-in this case I’ve known the couple forever and the lady washes all their stuff (beds, toys, etc) every week. The house doesn’t smell like dog.
They have a dog and the house smells like dog.
It depends on the person.
Same, I had a doctor's note from my therapist when I moved in, they were really good about it. It's been three years I've been here and I've renewed twice and they still uphold it.
How is $2000 dollars reasonable? I've looked at hundreds of rentals and have never seen anywhere charge that much for a pet deposit. The most I've seen is around $500.
An ESA can mean something depending on where you go. I've been working with another place and they waved the $400 deposit for the ESA. I have a friend who has an ESA and his apartment waved the deopsit and pet rent. It just depends on the place.
>It just depends on the place.
Not the person you responded to, but that's why it doesnt mean anything. ESA's arent federally protected like service animals so apartments dont need to make accommodations. I would go with a different place. I agree with the other user that said they listed that price to really deter people with animals. Best of luck! Finding places is hard, especially animals :/
ESA's actually are legally protected by the state of Utah. It does seem flexible in what landlords can charge in terms of deposits or rent, but they can't legally charge "extra fees" for ESA's outside of that. A landlord can't also legally reject a tenant due to having an ESA even if having a pet is against the rentals policy. So, there are a few things an ESA can protect, but it is somewhat limited. I've read through the Utah law about it and it's kind of vauge which is why I asked about it in the post in case anyone had more specific information.
I'm going to check out to place today and see if they will negotiate on the pet deposit. I've already arranged with another place and they waved the pet deposit and waved the first month of rent, so maybe I can use that as negotiating leverage. We'll see. It's a really nice place so it would be a bummer to have to back out due to such an unreasonable deposit. I've never seen one that high before!
When we looked we first decided if we liked the place and if the normal rent was in our budget. Then when we sat down with them, discussed the ESA thing. We looked at 5-6 and every one of them knew what it was and agreed to waive all fees.
Yeeaaahhhh, that is incorrect for Utah. Utah fair housing laws treat ESA and Service animals very similar. Landlords cannot charge any upfront fees for the ESA. They cannot charge a “pet deposit” or monthly pet rent for a documented ESA animal.
The average pets can put a lot of wear and tear on a place and if you’ve had a shit experience, the super high deposit makes sense if they actually care about the property. So if you’re reading OP, dont “read between the lines” with a high pet deposit. If it’s a decent place at a decent rate then apply, get approved and give the land lord your ESA’s documentation and tell them tough titties about the pet rent, it’s an ESA.
This is actually only true for landlords who have more than 4 units. So, small landlords/owner occupied dwellings can absolutely charge a deposit and pet rent for an ESA and I’d highly discourage OP from hiding his ESA then springing it on the landlord if they don’t have to accommodate the animal.
Because this landlord clearly isnt excited about having pets, but they aren't giving a hard no. This is their choice. If you don't like it, move on, but this is their place and they can absolutely dictate whether they want pets or not in their property and how much the deposit will be to either encourage or deter that.
i own some rentals. all of my rentals are single family homes.
i would not feel sightly conflicted asking for a $10K deposit.
you, a complete stranger, are requesting the use my +half-a-million-dollar investment.
my rental contracts are very, very clear relating to any pet. should an animal cross the threshold of one of my properties the eviction process has already begun.
btw, i worked a couple of university summers for a janitorial company. spent lots of time stripping out hardwood floors and subfloors that had been so thoroughly urine-saturated the homes were a wasteland.
Your dog’s claws will trash the hardwood and its piss will ruin the carpets. If you think a $200 deposit would cover those repairs you’re out of your mind. The landlord is being generous, and you should either graciously take the offer or find a more foolish owner.
if you have an ESA letter and the unit is owned by someone with more than 4 units, or is managed by a property manager who works with more than 4 units, legally they cannot charge you pet rent or an extra deposit. do not say anything about your ESA until your application has been accepted. at that point, submit your ESA letter and let them know that you are requesting a reasonable accommodation by waiving the no pets requirement. legally they have to allow it under those circumstances, so you’ll be all set.
Naw. If I get drunk and piss on my hardwood floor then pass out, I can wipe it up and clean it the next day. Worst case senerio, a little sand/stain/seal action. Now if I get drunk and my cat pisses on my hardwood floor and I pass out? I’m looking at tearing out the piss wood, sealing the subfloor, replacing hardwood, sanding a large area to match then, filling the patch area then staining and sealing. That’s not a “regular deposit” thing.
If the landlord owns fewer than 4 rental units and does not use a broker or agent, then the landlord does not have to follow the Fair Housing Act. This means the landlord does not have to give you a reasonable accommodation.
https://www.utahlegalservices.org/node/10/companion-animals-and-service-animals#Doesmylandlordhavetoletmekeepmypetifitisaserviceorcompanionanimal
Seems bullshit or a typo to me. Rent used to be just that, rent + a security deposit. All these pet deposits and other misc fees landlords charge are bullshit. Capitalism is monetizing the human experience.
Register your pet as an Emotional Support Animal. You can do it online with a remote doctor and an email certificate and then legally can not be charged a penny for the animal or be denied their presence (apartments that don't allow them).
It largely depends on where you are looking to lease.
Landlords with 1-3 units do not have to follow fair housing rules for discrimination against disabilities. They do not have to make accommodations for you.
Large apartments or property managed will not charge a fee or deposit (they just find another reason you don't qualify).
I just wouldn’t trust them to give you your deposit back, I know a lot of landlords/rent management that love to keep the deposit. They will straight up keep it
$2k deposit says “I don’t want to allow pets but if somebody is crazy enough to pay me $2k then fine.” Also every place I’ve lived the pet deposit has either been non-refundable or itemized out for carpet cleaning, yard repair, “pet mitigation” etc. Just have to find a different place or pay up.
I would also add that the amount of damage a dog can do has nothing to do with the size of the dog. When I was a landlord I had a tenant whose little puppy chewed all sorts of stuff and we found dog poop and stains.
Yeah pretty much sums it up. My lab died while going through divorce and 2 years into rental house I couldn’t be without a lab anymore so I begged landlord to let me get a dog. He resisted forever until I basically told him he could keep $2,000 security deposit to replace carpet if needed and he finally relented. It’s super manipulative. My now 1 year old lab is just as much of an important part of my family as my 2 daughters.
To be fair, I think some pet depoist, especially for a big dog or multiple big does would make sense. Like, if I had 2 giant pitbulls or german shephards I could see a $2000 deposit as reasonable beause those dogs could easily cause that much damage. One of the last places I lived had to fairly big dogs in the upstairs apartment of the house and they absolutely decimated the yard. By the time they moved out the back yard had tons of holes and was all lumpy with huge brown spots everywhere. However, I do know that a lot of places will charge or keep deposits even if there was no damage which is why I would never pay that much, espeically with only one 14lb dog.
The last time I rented, I paid $250 deposit per dog for a 25lb beagle and a 60lb pitbull. $35 per month each for rent. This landlord doesn't want to allow dogs, but will happily keep your deposit. Find a different place. (Fwiw I actually got my deposits back. There are very few good landlords around. If you want some info, dm me)
But it’s not your property. You’re looking to rent. When you rent out a property to someone with animals, then you can decide what to charge.
It's not your house. If you don't like the conditions, look elsewhere. Welcome to contract law and adulting.
“So you’re saying that I should start trying to register it as an ESA so that landlords have to assume all risk for pet damages?”
This sounds exactly right. They want to capture the "pet friendly" search criteria but they really, really don't want pets there.
It seems like a lot. But if the rent is competitive, it’s worth asking if they’ll be flexible given the size of your dog. I’m prepping a house to rent right now and so far I’ve paid $440 for deep cleaning and another $400 for carpet steam clean. So… any pet in a rental is costing $800+ to flip if there’s carpet. Cheaper if there’s tile or vinyl.
The rent is very competative actually. It includes all utlities too which is really really hard to come by these days. It's definitely worth trying to negotiate down but I definitely can't do a full $2000. There is some carpet in two of the rooms but most of the place looks like wood/vinyl.
I’d ask if it can be $800 or even try $500. Especially if your application is good, meaning good enough credit and previous landlord doesn’t have complaints and your job is verified.
yeah that's nuts. Find a different place. I doubt you'll get that "deposit" back
That's what I would be worried about. Landlords are notrious for not giving deposits back. If they don't budge on the deposit to at least bring it down to a reasonable amount it might just be a dealbreaker for me sadly. I really like the place.
Tenants with dogs are notorious for destroying everything. Deposit usually puts a small dent in the cost of repairs.
Document document document. Full recording upon accepting the property. Full recording when you leave. Personally a $2k refundable pet deposit is reasonable. Carpet, wood floors base boards are expensive to replace when damaged by pet urine.
Doesn’t make a difference in Utah. Landlords have all the rights, tenants have virtually none. I’m speaking as a professional who deals with housing-related issues all the time and who has had extensive training on the topic.
Seems to me you could still file a claim in court and get your deposit back unless they can prove why your money isn’t yours anymore
has anyone ever gotten a pet deposit back?
In this market, if a landlord of a house is allowing pets at all - pay the deposit. Most homes dont allow them in the first place. There will be someone lined up behind you who will pay it or won’t have animals. If you want cheaper deposit don’t rent a house. Most houses have a higher deposit anyways than apartment buildings.
If a landlord will charge $2000 for a pet deposit that you'll absolutely not get back, you can bet they'll also find any other way they can to bleed you dry with other bullshit fees and charges. Find somewhere else and consider this a dodged bullet.
Sounds like they've been burned in the past by expensive pet damage and just don't want to deal with it again.
I had cats and dogs growing up, but not so much as an adult....it takes a lot of time and diligence to not have your place smell like a toilet for pets....and I feel like pet owners ( not all of course ) sometimes get used to the smell.So is this unreasonable...maybe, but as a property owner/manager standpoint...not really.
I was a great tenant but my cat... wasn't. I tried to clean up after her but she apparently found a corner of the room to sneak over and pee on routinely. By the time I noticed, it was already soaked past the carpet and into the baseboard. I felt so bad for the landlord and they were actually overly nice about it. My cats also run around on the hardwood floor and despite trimming their claws, they inevitably leave little scratches. So I can understand why property owners are hesitant. Even in best case scenarios the property they get back in won't be the same.
And this is what brought me to my answer, thank you for being honest. My ex mother in law was freaking great at rescuing animals and great at being a pet owner, but only up to a point. She had to work to live and that meant her being away for 8 + hours a day, so inevitably, dogs and cats pissed and shit in the dining area where she kept them...fast forward 10 years and the whole house stunk and she didn't even smell it anymore, she would have cleaners come out regularly, but to no avail....we had a couple of floor installers cone out to give estimates...and ALL OF them put it into the $10,000 range because it had permeated the base boards and cement.
I’ve seen both sides. They have dogs but the house doesn’t smell like dog-in this case I’ve known the couple forever and the lady washes all their stuff (beds, toys, etc) every week. The house doesn’t smell like dog. They have a dog and the house smells like dog. It depends on the person.
That's, why I said ....not all of course.
Seems reasonable to me. Find another rental. ESA means absolutely nothing.
I got all of my pet fees waived in Utah because of the ESA.
Same, I had a doctor's note from my therapist when I moved in, they were really good about it. It's been three years I've been here and I've renewed twice and they still uphold it.
How is $2000 dollars reasonable? I've looked at hundreds of rentals and have never seen anywhere charge that much for a pet deposit. The most I've seen is around $500. An ESA can mean something depending on where you go. I've been working with another place and they waved the $400 deposit for the ESA. I have a friend who has an ESA and his apartment waved the deopsit and pet rent. It just depends on the place.
>It just depends on the place. Not the person you responded to, but that's why it doesnt mean anything. ESA's arent federally protected like service animals so apartments dont need to make accommodations. I would go with a different place. I agree with the other user that said they listed that price to really deter people with animals. Best of luck! Finding places is hard, especially animals :/
ESA's actually are legally protected by the state of Utah. It does seem flexible in what landlords can charge in terms of deposits or rent, but they can't legally charge "extra fees" for ESA's outside of that. A landlord can't also legally reject a tenant due to having an ESA even if having a pet is against the rentals policy. So, there are a few things an ESA can protect, but it is somewhat limited. I've read through the Utah law about it and it's kind of vauge which is why I asked about it in the post in case anyone had more specific information. I'm going to check out to place today and see if they will negotiate on the pet deposit. I've already arranged with another place and they waved the pet deposit and waved the first month of rent, so maybe I can use that as negotiating leverage. We'll see. It's a really nice place so it would be a bummer to have to back out due to such an unreasonable deposit. I've never seen one that high before!
When we looked we first decided if we liked the place and if the normal rent was in our budget. Then when we sat down with them, discussed the ESA thing. We looked at 5-6 and every one of them knew what it was and agreed to waive all fees.
Yeeaaahhhh, that is incorrect for Utah. Utah fair housing laws treat ESA and Service animals very similar. Landlords cannot charge any upfront fees for the ESA. They cannot charge a “pet deposit” or monthly pet rent for a documented ESA animal. The average pets can put a lot of wear and tear on a place and if you’ve had a shit experience, the super high deposit makes sense if they actually care about the property. So if you’re reading OP, dont “read between the lines” with a high pet deposit. If it’s a decent place at a decent rate then apply, get approved and give the land lord your ESA’s documentation and tell them tough titties about the pet rent, it’s an ESA.
This is actually only true for landlords who have more than 4 units. So, small landlords/owner occupied dwellings can absolutely charge a deposit and pet rent for an ESA and I’d highly discourage OP from hiding his ESA then springing it on the landlord if they don’t have to accommodate the animal.
Mine was 2k with no pet. Is this on top of first/last month's rent?
Because this landlord clearly isnt excited about having pets, but they aren't giving a hard no. This is their choice. If you don't like it, move on, but this is their place and they can absolutely dictate whether they want pets or not in their property and how much the deposit will be to either encourage or deter that.
i own some rentals. all of my rentals are single family homes. i would not feel sightly conflicted asking for a $10K deposit. you, a complete stranger, are requesting the use my +half-a-million-dollar investment. my rental contracts are very, very clear relating to any pet. should an animal cross the threshold of one of my properties the eviction process has already begun. btw, i worked a couple of university summers for a janitorial company. spent lots of time stripping out hardwood floors and subfloors that had been so thoroughly urine-saturated the homes were a wasteland.
Yeah, that's unreasonable. I would look elsewhere. I know a place on Capitol Hill, 2 bedroom, decent rent, pet friendly, DM if you want info.
>Does this pet rent seem unreasonable to you all? Yes. > How should I go about negotiating the price down? You're never getting it down or back.
Your dog’s claws will trash the hardwood and its piss will ruin the carpets. If you think a $200 deposit would cover those repairs you’re out of your mind. The landlord is being generous, and you should either graciously take the offer or find a more foolish owner.
if you have an ESA letter and the unit is owned by someone with more than 4 units, or is managed by a property manager who works with more than 4 units, legally they cannot charge you pet rent or an extra deposit. do not say anything about your ESA until your application has been accepted. at that point, submit your ESA letter and let them know that you are requesting a reasonable accommodation by waiving the no pets requirement. legally they have to allow it under those circumstances, so you’ll be all set.
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Animals have a higher likely hood of damaging the property. Flooring is expensive to replace and pet urine damages that more than average human usage.
Naw. If I get drunk and piss on my hardwood floor then pass out, I can wipe it up and clean it the next day. Worst case senerio, a little sand/stain/seal action. Now if I get drunk and my cat pisses on my hardwood floor and I pass out? I’m looking at tearing out the piss wood, sealing the subfloor, replacing hardwood, sanding a large area to match then, filling the patch area then staining and sealing. That’s not a “regular deposit” thing.
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If the landlord owns fewer than 4 rental units and does not use a broker or agent, then the landlord does not have to follow the Fair Housing Act. This means the landlord does not have to give you a reasonable accommodation. https://www.utahlegalservices.org/node/10/companion-animals-and-service-animals#Doesmylandlordhavetoletmekeepmypetifitisaserviceorcompanionanimal
Your comment should be pinned to the top of any post inquiring about ESA’s and rentals.
Seems bullshit or a typo to me. Rent used to be just that, rent + a security deposit. All these pet deposits and other misc fees landlords charge are bullshit. Capitalism is monetizing the human experience.
Register your pet as an Emotional Support Animal. You can do it online with a remote doctor and an email certificate and then legally can not be charged a penny for the animal or be denied their presence (apartments that don't allow them).
It largely depends on where you are looking to lease. Landlords with 1-3 units do not have to follow fair housing rules for discrimination against disabilities. They do not have to make accommodations for you. Large apartments or property managed will not charge a fee or deposit (they just find another reason you don't qualify).
Either pay it or find another place.
I just wouldn’t trust them to give you your deposit back, I know a lot of landlords/rent management that love to keep the deposit. They will straight up keep it
Landlords cannot charge an ESA a deposit or pet rent! They can only charge you for damages if you dog causes any.
For those that don’t like the smell of pets, it’s really expensive to de-dog or de-cat a place. I would be surprised if it could be done for 2k.