Pet owners have one more reason to shop carefully when looking to lease an apartment, because “dog rent” and “cat rent” have become increasingly common.
And the extra monthly charge often comes on top of onetime, nonrefundable pet fees or security deposits that total hundreds of dollars. When it's all added up, renting with one cat or dog in the household could cost between $500 and $1,000 the first year, and a few hundred dollars every year after that.
Of course, it all depends on the landlord or apartment complex.
An informal survey of my pet-owning co-workers found them paying an extra $10 to $30 for pet rent every month, plus a hefty onetime fee that ranged from $300 to $500. Fees, unlike deposits, are typically nonrefundable.
Large, newer apartment buildings are more likely to use rent-maximizing software programs, which I wrote about in last week's column. They've also become notorious for piling on fees — for dogs and cats, garbage collection, cable connections, amenities, rent applications, for “administration” and even for renewing a lease.
It reminds me of how airlines and rental-car companies added a whole list of extra fees so that their sticker prices would be competitive online but the actual cost would usually be higher.
South Carolina's landlord-friendly Residential Landlord and Tenant Act does not limit or regulate pet deposits and nonrefundable fees.
However, service animals, including emotional support animals, are exempt from extra fees under the federal Fair Housing Act. Tenants can expect to be asked for some type of proof regarding such animals and, possibly, an extra security deposit.
The Humane Society of the United States says: “You should provide your landlord with a letter from your doctor/therapist stating you have a disability and explaining how your pet is needed to help you cope with this disability and/or improves its symptoms.”
Of course, most pets aren't really emotional support animals, and the best way to avoid hefty pet fees, deposits and monthly rent is to ask about them while apartment hunting.
Having said that, I do know people who have avoided pet fees and “cat rent” by getting their cat qualified as an emotional support animal.
Many landlords, of course, have good reason to charge extra for pets. Animals can and often do cause all sorts of damage, and an additional security deposit to cover potential problems is easy to justify.
Ask any landlord, and they're likely to have stories to tell.
Extra fees and pet rent, however, aren't directly connected to any damage unless a lease agreement specifies otherwise. Sometimes they are justified by having play areas for dogs and poop-bag dispensers, but cats don't need or use such things.
Like airlines that charge extra fees for baggage, seat assignments and even for buying a ticket online, some apartment owners and managers have found they can boost revenue with fees for things that used to be free.
One colleague of mine was charged a $500 “lease renewal” fee — which I had not heard of before.
If you're a renter in South Carolina who's been surprised by unexpected fees, I'd like to hear about your experience, so drop me an email.
