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

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highland145

highland145

Lifer
Oct 12, 2009
43,873
6,235
136
http://real-estate.lawyers.com/landlord-tenant-law/Rights-and-Responsibilities-of-Landlords.html

Pets

You have the right to bar a tenant from bringing pets into the leased premises. Alternatively, you can allow pets in exchange for increased rent or an increased security deposit so as to protect yourself from pet-related damages. The lease should have a clear provision regarding pets.
However, you can't enforce a "no pet" clause against a tenant who has a service animal, such as a "seeing eye" dog. Such a refusal is unlawful discrimination under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), as well as most states' anti-discrimination laws.
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waggy

waggy

No Lifer
Dec 14, 2000
68,143
10
81
highland145 said:
http://real-estate.lawyers.com/landlord-tenant-law/Rights-and-Responsibilities-of-Landlords.html
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Thats not pets that's service animals. you can't ban service animals but you can ban pets.



I think EVERYONE should have a pet. they do so much to enrich a persons life. Trouble is some people are lazy, idiotic and don't take care of the pets.

When looking for a house we looked at one that smelled like piss and shit. it was soaked into the carpets and walls. whoever purchased the house was going to have to do a lot of work to make it not stink. Wich is why most landlords ban them.
 
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lord_emperor

lord_emperor

Golden Member
Nov 4, 2009
1,380
1
0
1. Ask nicely.
2. Offer up an additional damage deposit.
3. If looking at a cat, show your landlord mice you've caught. This one worked for me.
4. Since you're not under any particular pressure, look for another place that allows pets.
 
HardcoreRobot

HardcoreRobot

Lifer
Nov 7, 2000
16,403
3
81
pet deposit + proof of insurance. though i dont recall if renters insurance covers anything but your contents. might rely on the homeowners. either way, be prepared for a NO, and dont take it too personally.
 
T

the DRIZZLE

Platinum Member
Sep 6, 2007
2,956
1
81
ConwayJim said:
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)
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Your link is from Canada.
 
Skyye

Skyye

Senior member
Nov 5, 2005
556
0
0
Thank you for all of the input. I suppose when it comes down to it, I just need to ask. The worst the landlord can say is no. This is not one of those things that will make or break my place as a "great place" to live. It is just something that I thought would be nice to have. In fairness, I did agree not to have pets when I signed the agreement. So for them to say no, it is completely fair.

I feel that offering more in rent and a pet deposit would be within reason. I'm an easy going guy, and as far as I can tell so is the landlord, so maybe it will happen. :)
 
highland145

highland145

Lifer
Oct 12, 2009
43,873
6,235
136
Skyye said:
Thank you for all of the input. I suppose when it comes down to it, I just need to ask. The worst the landlord can say is no. This is not one of those things that will make or break my place as a "great place" to live. It is just something that I thought would be nice to have. In fairness, I did agree not to have pets when I signed the agreement. So for them to say no, it is completely fair.

I feel that offering more in rent and a pet deposit would be within reason. I'm an easy going guy, and as far as I can tell so is the landlord, so maybe it will happen. :)
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TBH, you're a good/low maintenance tenant, he'll probably forgive you any extra $$ to keep you in the place.

Keep us posted, please.
 
SpatiallyAware

SpatiallyAware

Lifer
Sep 7, 2009
12,960
3
0
Gibson486 said:
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.
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Completely this.

It is nuts that some of you think you have a tenant right to have an animal.

Offer to pay a pet deposit, my tenants have to pay $500 cleaning fee on top of first/last months rent. Any time I'm in this situation I mentally prepare to replace all carpets and repair doorjambs.




You cannot watch your pet all the time. It WILL do damage to the property, especially since it will be a puppy.
 
SpatiallyAware

SpatiallyAware

Lifer
Sep 7, 2009
12,960
3
0
Skyye said:
Thank you for all of the input. I suppose when it comes down to it, I just need to ask. The worst the landlord can say is no. This is not one of those things that will make or break my place as a "great place" to live. It is just something that I thought would be nice to have. In fairness, I did agree not to have pets when I signed the agreement. So for them to say no, it is completely fair.

I feel that offering more in rent and a pet deposit would be within reason. I'm an easy going guy, and as far as I can tell so is the landlord, so maybe it will happen. :)
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Personally I would not offer more in rent, but would offer a pet deposit. Make sure he understands if you're going to crate it or whatnot.. And +1 that you sound like a good tenant, which are very VERY rare nowadays.
 
GrumpyMan

GrumpyMan

Diamond Member
May 14, 2001
5,780
264
136
I suppose you could force a pet onto a landlord if you really wanted to. But you can't force him to renew your lease....
 
dr150

dr150

Diamond Member
Sep 18, 2003
6,570
24
81
I only allow small pets (after seeing the dog personally) in my rental houses.

Big unruly dogs (due to lack of exercise) can wreak havoc in the interior and yard.

You can most likely forget about convincing your landowner about allowing pets, they're more interested in costs and property value.

You'll have to move to get your pet....
 
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preslove

preslove

Lifer
Sep 10, 2003
16,754
63
91
What kind of 'small pet?' I'm sure if it's a lizard in an enclosure he would be much more amenable.

These guys are pretty cute:

220px-Bearded_Dragon_showing_beard.jpg
 
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N

NetWareHead

THAT guy
Aug 10, 2002
5,847
154
106
GrumpyMan said:
I suppose you could force a pet onto a landlord if you really wanted to. But you can't force him to renew your lease....
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No need to wait for the end of the lease, provided you have the penalty spelled out in the agreement. If a tenant tried to force a pet on me without my prior approval, they would be in violation of the lease and I could begin eviction immediately.
 
Capt Caveman

Capt Caveman

Lifer
Jan 30, 2005
34,543
651
126
Gibson486 said:
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.
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I'm pretty sure that in MA, it's illegal to require a security deposit for pets.
 
CZroe

CZroe

Lifer
Jun 24, 2001
24,195
857
126
Our small dog needed a playmate but the lease only allowed for one small dog. When the lease came due and it was clear that they were happy with us as tenants, we made it clear that we would go someplace else if we could not have a second dog. We got a reduction in rent and didn't even have to add to our previous pet deposit. ;)

alent1234 said:
if this is a private home that you are renting can he legally not allow pets?
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What, you think that only the government can prevent you from having animals in government housing? WTF? Being private gives the owner/landlord MORE rights.

ConwayJim said:
Landlord can ask you not to have pets, but can't stop you. It's part of your rights of being a tenant.
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RIGHTS?! It's the OWNER'S right, exactly like a hotel that forbids you from having a pet or smoking in a room not set aside for pets or smoking. They are PRIVATE OWNERS and you are a renting tenant with no right to smoke or have a pet if they say so. Both activities can cause allergic reactions in future guests and lower the property value so they have to have certain rooms and rental properties set aside for that if they want to allow it.

highland145 said:
Wrong, at least in S.C. Don't know about places like CA.
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Wrong for CA and GA as well.
 
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CZroe

CZroe

Lifer
Jun 24, 2001
24,195
857
126
the DRIZZLE said:
Your link is from Canada.
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Also, cats and dogs can cause allergies, so it clearly shows that the landlord can restrict them. It's saying that you can have fish or a lizard or something without permission.
 
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