Anny, I'm so glad it worked out for you and that bad apple didn't spoil it for the whole bunch. I hope the OP has the same result.

That 'no pet' rule is one that I'm too afraid to change. Possession really is 9/10 of the law and tenants have many more rights than landlords. Your 6 month proof period would have been useless to the landlord in the winter time (at least in Illinois) if things didn't pan out. The sheriff won't serve eviction papers when the temperature is below 50 degrees and that means the entire Winter here. The poor landlord would be at the mercy of the tenant to be nice enough to move without force. Good luck with that. If a person doesn't have enough integrity to stop their dog from destroying a property there would probably be no moving out without force either.

oh I forgot about smokers, real heavy smokers, the kid I mentor lives in a two bed one bath apartment and three adult that live there smoke round the clock in every room, I was there the other day after everyone had been gone for several hours you could cut the smoke with a knife, and the poor kid I mentor has bad asthma! oh and they have tree cats. pets if trained right can make better tenants

I understand the landlords point of view too, but still think it's not really right to charge someone out their rear end and tell them they can't have a pet. Most pets don't destroy the place. A few do. LIke the cat who pisses everywhere. None of my cats have ever done that. Spayed pets only allowed rule would take care of that. lol Pet rent could cover any damages in the end. better than refusing the person who is paying so much to live there a pet.

I have a townhouse I rent out. I gave my renters the option of new carpets, no pets, or cleaned old carpet, and they can have pets.

I do not want to own something and have it trashed and destroyed bc of someone's pet. I'm sorry! :( I know it stinks and I'm sure if the roles were reversed I'd be frustrated too. However, I only required 1/2 a month's rent for my place as a security deposit so I could never afford new carpeting on that budget. I think it's a tough spot for landlords and renters alike. :(

I am glad you found something though! It sound great too!

We didn't end up taking that place. We found another one we liked better. Bigger and everything about it is better for just a little more. And Charlie is not a problem. It even has a doggie door in the kitchen and a secure backyard for him to roam in. Super excited. Our visit with the landlord went well and he said he'd be calling us. Wish me luck!!!

I can see both sides of the coin.... Years ago I moved into places that had been trashed by the previous renters with pets. What a mess to clean up and repair.

Really off subject, I used to be stationed at the Naval Station Long beach. Lived in Torrence and used to drive the bridge everyday.

It IS so frustrating. I know how you feel. I settled for my current apartment because it was very cheap, but now I am hating it and want out so badly. I just don't understand how a pet fee can be $350 for 1 DOG! I flat out refused to pay another $350 when I got Rosie. The contract said $350 for one dog up to 65 lbs. My TWO girls added together barely weigh 10 lbs. I know two dogs is twice the mess, but both of my girls are pad trained and have not had a single accident on the carpet. I said absolutely not. I luckily got my way here, but in any other leasing office that will not fly.

I want so badly to find a small house or condo w/ a yard! It would just be too much for us to afford...especially because we would need to go from a 1 BR to a 2 BR considering it is likely we will have a baby in the next 5 yrs or so. In this area it is all either crappy apartments, luxury student apartments, or large houses. :( Our lease is up next August and we will not be renewing. I am determined to find a condo or house where my girls can play outside. Here, there is no grass, all pavement and I'm sick of the smell of potty pads so once we move, they will have to learn how to go potty outside. That'll be a trainwreck in and of itself.

My dad and uncle used to rent out a duplex. One time we could NOT get this family to leave. They didn't pay for months and months. When they finally left the place was a complete mess. Trash everywhere. Stains on the carpet, crayon on the walls, you name it. We actually ended up dying the carpet the same color as the Kool Aid stains. They had NO pets. It was the kids and their lack of parenting.

I can totally understand landlords not wanting to rent to people with pets.

It's been years since I rented, but when I did, I wouldn't go with large commercial landlords. I always went to a local real estate agent & got a referral to a landlord with just a few well-kept properties. I met with the landlord one-on-one & came to an arrangement that included a much heftier deposit than usual. I never had a problem finding something...even with kids & a dog.

I had my kids do the same while they were in college, once they moved out of the dorms. My, just turned 21 last month, son lives in a house that you wouldn't believe! Him & his roomies are renting his landlords own private home, after she built herself a new home. 4 bedrooms, two amazing bathrooms with large, beautiful tiled showers & separate Jacuzzi tubs in each, newly finished hardwood floor throughout, premium trim & woodwork, and an absolutely gorgeous kitchen with cherry to-ceiling-cabinets, with lighted glass uppers, granite counters, stainless top-end appliances. I was absolutely floored that the landlord would rent this house to 4, 21 year old college kids! But 3 of the roomies lived together & rented a more typical college house from her the previous year & were the best tenants she'd had, so she took a chance on them.

I have been hunting like I'm on a mission and my life depends on it. lol What I have found (at least where I am at) is you can easily find a rental house or condo for the same price as apartments go for but you really have to hunt hunt hunt. And then there is always competition. We have our applications printed with proof of income and copies of everything when we go see the place so we can just hand it to them if we like it right then and there.

That was one thing I did not want to end up in a place that doesn't at least have a big enough patio for charlie to go roam in. I can't always take him for walks and he needs to go outside everyday just because he's a dog.

I hear about how hard it is to get tenants out. My friends has a friend who's mother was paid $1800 by the owners to get her to finally leave. Crazy. I would never do that. I couldn't live somewhere under those conditions. I am sure she didn't leave the place very good condition either. That would totally suck to have to worry about that being someone who rents out there place. But it's true. Kids destroy things more than dogs do.