What do you charge for Pet Fees?

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What do you charge for Pet Fees?

Property Manager · Lansdale, PA · Member since 2021 · 844 posts · 1k+ votes

One of the most common questions I see as a Landlord when leasing out my properties is around Pet Fees/Pet Restrictions. When renting with my furry friend in the past, it was not uncommon to run into Non-Refundable Pet Fees, Pet Security Deposit, and a Monthly Pet Rent.

What are you charging in Pet Fees?🐶🐱🐰
Have you increased any of your fees recently?

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Brett Deas

CO · Member since 2022 · 588 posts · 426 votes

I do a refundable deposit as well as monthly pet rent. The pet rent isn't high, only 20 dollars, but that way it pays for the extra few hours required to clean all the pet hair and things. However, with the refundable deposit I have seen better results with people cleaning up after themselves and less work required to deal with the aftermath.

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Gustavo Delgado
Houston, TX · Member since 2015 · 261 posts · 170 votes
3y
Instead of a deposit I add it to the monthly rent as a "pet rent"
0 Reply
Colette Major
Rental Property Investor · Chicago, IL · Member since 2019 · 39 posts · 15 votes
3y
When applying pet fees, we created a $1000 refundable or $500 non refundable fee. Ren monthly is 2000, 3500 monthly, respectively.
The higher the security deposit, the lower the pet deposit.
In addition, a smaller $50/2000 monthly rent premium.
0 Reply
Kyle DwyerPro Member
Rental Property Investor · Seguin, TX · Member since 2017 · 45 posts · 21 votes
3y
Hey Noah,

When it comes to pet fees, I typically charge a non-refundable pet fee of $250 per pet. In addition to that, I also charge a monthly pet rent of $25 per pet. I've found this approach to be fair and reasonable for both the tenants and myself.

I haven't made any recent increases to the fees, but I have noticed that the demand for pet-friendly rentals has been increasing, and tenants are generally accepting of the fees.

What about you? What pet fees do you charge, and have you made any changes to them recently?

Looking forward to hearing your thoughts!

Best,

0 Reply
Zane Cress
Realtor · Athens, GA · Member since 2023 · 201 posts · 104 votes
3y
A non-refundable deposit of $200 which is what it costs me to deep clean after an animal. A $300 refundable deposit in case of damages.
0 Reply
Becca F.
Rental Property Investor · San Francisco Bay Area · Member since 2022 · 1k+ posts · 1k+ votes
3y
My previous tenant had a small dog. Initially I didn't want any pets but then I would be eliminating a large group of potential tenants. I didn't charge a separate pet security deposit or any one-time fee. The reasoning being that sometimes it's the people that cause more damage than the pets or it may be difficult to determine who caused the damage. I'm very certain the gouge in the kitchen counter and the paint gouge in the upper part of the wall was not caused by the dog.
I charged a $35 monthly pet fee for each small dog (e.g. Chuihuahua, Yorkie) or each cat. Tenant had asked about having a larger dog. I would have charged $45 for a dog the size of a Golden Retriever, German Shepherd, etc (e.g 50 to 80 lb dog). The tenant wound up moving out and my current tenants don't have pets.
For those of you who charge monthly pet fees for dogs, do you use a weight range to separate what's considered a small or large dog or specify breeds as small or large breeds? A Saint Bernard is 150 lbs and a Labrador retriever is about 70 lbs. I've heard that it's frequently smaller dogs that cause more damage than larger dogs.
0 Reply
Jim Rivell
Investor · Philadelphia, PA · Member since 2022 · 106 posts · 56 votes
3y
I'm charging $150/pet one time non-refundable fee at my properties. Tenant also needs to list type of animal/breed.
1 Reply
Nanci E Keate
Member since 2023 · 4 posts · 3 votes
3y
My tenant paid a $200 non refundable pet fee, and I initially requested $50/mo per pet, but the tenant shares his cat with an ex and requested I half the monthly fee to $25 and I agreed.
0 Reply
Paul Rosenboom
Specialist · Kansas City, MO · Member since 2019 · 3 posts · 5 votes
3y
We charge $50/month base pet rent, which increases with more animals. We also charge a refundable deposit of $250, which increases with more animals. We add this deposit it to the regular security deposit, not as an extra pet deposit. Depending on the regulating body, pet deposits may only be applied to pet damage. By rolling it into the single security deposit, it can be used for any damages or amounts due.
0 Reply
Sean Kane
Member since 2023 · 2 posts · 1 vote
3y
I've found its helpful to charge an upfront fee in the Philadelphia area while also tacking extra on to the security deposit. Depending upon the monthly rental cost Ive usually charged 250-500 up front while also adding another 500 on to the deposit.
1 Reply
Alan AsriantsBusiness Member
Real Estate Agent · Philadelphia, PA · Member since 2019 · 1k+ posts · 1k+ votes
3y
Looks like there are many ways to skin the cat..
in all seriousness, I usually just charge a one time refundable pet deposit ($500)
[email protected]267-767-0111
Alan Asriants - New Century Real Estate 591 Reviews
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Account Closed
Lender · Member since 2023 · 20 posts · 7 votes
3y
Quote from @Alan Asriants:

Looks like there are many ways to skin the cat..
in all seriousness, I usually just charge a one time refundable pet deposit ($500)

Were we supposed to laugh??
0 Reply
Eric Greenberg
Investor · Philadelphia, PA · Member since 2019 · 618 posts · 430 votes
3y
Quote from @Sean Kane:

I've found its helpful to charge an upfront fee in the Philadelphia area while also tacking extra on to the security deposit. Depending upon the monthly rental cost Ive usually charged 250-500 up front while also adding another 500 on to the deposit.

Just an fyi in Philly, you cant hold extra money over 2x rent for the first year (last months & security) and only 1x rent (security) from year two onwards. If it were me, Id change the terminology from a deposit to a fee or add one in as part of monthly rent.
1 Reply
Eric Greenberg
Investor · Philadelphia, PA · Member since 2019 · 618 posts · 430 votes
3y
Quote from @Alan Asriants:

Looks like there are many ways to skin the cat..
in all seriousness, I usually just charge a one time refundable pet deposit ($500)
Alan, you keep a refundable pet deposit, last months rent (1st year only), and a security deposit of 1 months rent?

My understanding of the laws is that you cant hold over 2x months rent as security for the 1st year and only 1x months rent from year 2 onwards in Philadelphia.
1 Reply
Alan AsriantsBusiness Member
Real Estate Agent · Philadelphia, PA · Member since 2019 · 1k+ posts · 1k+ votes
3y
Quote from @Eric Greenberg:

Quote from @Alan Asriants:

Looks like there are many ways to skin the cat..

in all seriousness, I usually just charge a one time refundable pet deposit ($500)

Alan, you keep a refundable pet deposit, last months rent (1st year only), and a security deposit of 1 months rent?

My understanding of the laws is that you cant hold over 2x months rent as security for the 1st year and only 1x months rent from year 2 onwards in Philadelphia.
You are right about that:
https://www.palawhelp.org/reso....
that being said, I think Pet Deposits might be an exception, because it doesn't mention anything about pets here or anywhere I read. If you find anything I would love to read into it. To be honest I don't have many rentals with pets, most without, I would much rather take a one time fee.
What do you do?
[email protected]267-767-0111
Alan Asriants - New Century Real Estate 591 Reviews
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Eric Greenberg
Investor · Philadelphia, PA · Member since 2019 · 618 posts · 430 votes
3y
@Alan Asriants agreed the cities verbiage is very vague on the subject so to protect myself I dont take anything over that 2x or 1x amount as a refundable deposit. I explicitly call it a ‘fee’ and either do a 1 time fee at the start or divide it by 12 and add it to rent each month.
1 Reply
Virginie Mandon
Member since 2023 · 1 post · 0 votes
3y
50
0 Reply
Mel Smith
atlanta, GA · Member since 2017 · 11 posts · 1 vote
3y
$350 per pet non-refundable, max 2 pets per household & $20/mo per pet for pet rent
0 Reply
Chris Merchant
Member since 2023 · 216 posts · 133 votes
3y
I currently charge $50/mo per pet listed on the lease (yes I have the pets listed on the leases so I know what type(s) of pets are on my properties) aside from service animals which you can not charge an extra fee for, but I do still have the tenant list any service animals on the lease.
1 Reply
Becca F.
Rental Property Investor · San Francisco Bay Area · Member since 2022 · 1k+ posts · 1k+ votes
3y
Quote from @Paul Rosenboom:

We charge $50/month base pet rent, which increases with more animals. We also charge a refundable deposit of $250, which increases with more animals. We add this deposit it to the regular security deposit, not as an extra pet deposit. Depending on the regulating body, pet deposits may only be applied to pet damage. By rolling it into the single security deposit, it can be used for any damages or amounts due.
I agree with this adding it onto the regular security deposit since damage to the property costs, regardless of it being caused by the humans or pets. The minor repairs that had to be done were caused by the damage by the people not their dog. My base pet rent was $35 for a small dog with previous tenant. Current tenants don’t have pets. I would do $45 or $50 for a larger dog (Golden Retriever or larger), $35 for cat or small dog but everything costs more now so not sure if increasing those amounts is feasible.
0 Reply
Jonathan Cisneros
Inland Empire CA · Member since 2019 · 45 posts · 18 votes
3y
Quote from @Brittany Edwards chu:

Quote from @Jonathan Cisneros:

I just acquired my first Duplex rental property. I too have questions regarding pets. My new tenant was bit by the bottom tenants dog. Nothing serious. Still, he was bit. How can I protect myself from incidents as such? What specific document?

Make sure you have good liability insurance! My insurance broker actually steered me away from allowing pets just because of the higher premiums.

Thank You so Much.
0 Reply
Renee Riley
Rental Property Investor · Hampton, VA · Member since 2023 · 6 posts · 0 votes
3y
I charge $200 deposit and increase the rent between 25 and $50 a month
0 Reply
Bud Gaffney
Rental Property Investor · Boston, MA · Member since 2019 · 2k+ posts · 1k+ votes
3y
@Noah Bacon at least $100/month FEE.
0 Reply
Brian Liscio
Little Falls, NJ · Member since 2014 · 88 posts · 49 votes
3y
@Brittany Edwards chu
Definitely require tenant insurance. Ours range from $6-9 a month. Lemonade! Or add to an auto policy..
0 Reply
Sam Zes
Property Manager · St. Louis, MO · Member since 2023 · 9 posts · 6 votes
3y
We charge $20/month for the first pet and an additional $15 for the second pet. Two pets max. For one pet, we require a $350 security deposit and $500 for two.
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