Reasonable Pet Deposit in Atlanta

[Grace A.]

Hi all,

I'm inheriting tenants (month-to-month) in a deal i'm working on. They have a dog but didn't put down a pet deposit when they initially moved in a few years ago.

Wondering what's a reasonable pet fee to charge as well as deposit in Atlanta. Property is SFR with a big outdoors space but the pet was in the home when I did a walk-through which suggests they'll have the pet inside the home pretty often.

Thank you!

[Todd Ortscheid]

I strongly advise against pet deposits. If a pet destroys the carpet, that $250 deposit you have won't mean much to you. Instead, charge a monthly pet fee based on the type, age, and size of the pet. You'll collect much more money during the term of the lease to cover any costs you'll have, and it isn't refundable so you get paid either way. As far as the amount of the fee, remember:

1. Puppies cause more damage than adult dogs
2. Big dogs tend to cause more damage than small dogs
3. Cats cause more damage than dogs

Charge your fee accordingly. And keep in mind, people will pay a lot more than you think they will for their pets.