Pet Policy - Rental House

[Cameron Rouse]

Have a rental house with 2 tenants in it and they were looking to add another roommate since one moved out. The new roomate has a 5 years old Husky/Shepherd that is 50lbs. I don't prefer to have animals in the home as it has brand new carpet.

My first thought is to deny the tenant due to the size and breed of dog, however should I consider the option of a large pet deposit and pet rent. Should I give the option of them paying $60-$100/month pet rent and $500 deposit or should I just deny them? Curious what others have done.

[Sharlene Mulchandani]

@Cameron Rouse I suggest charging a one time, non-refundable pet fee - most landlords usually charge anywhere between $50-$500 for pet fees, which you can use for any damages (especially since you have that new carpet). You can charge this fee, depending on the amount of risk presented by the pet. Additionally, you can charge a small monthly amount for pet rent, where you can charge anywhere from $10-$80 each month.
Pet fees (whether one time or monthly rent) are not legal in every state, so I suggest you refer to your state laws as well.