Am I the only one who thinks this....
 

Ok well I think after searching and searching, we've finally found a place. It's smaller than what we are use to, but its a house with a garage and it's in the area we wanted too. Nothing official yet, but it's looking good. We didn't want an apartment so it made hunting, especially because I have Charlie, very challenging.
Now, here's my question. While house hunting and so many people who wont except pets it made me think of something. Around my area a three bedroom goes in the price range of $2000 and up on average. I think it's ridiculous that people want you to pay that kind of rent and then tell you that you cannot have a pet. That's a lot of money every month not to be able to have the company you want there with you. I would just pass those places by, but some people do give up their pets when looking for a place because it's hard to find one that will let you. I don't know I just think it's wrong. I understand they don't want their house getting messed up and I would understand some sort of limitations, but to say you are not allowed, I feel is wrong when you are paying that kind of money. And to top it off, they almost always want a security deposit equal to and sometimes more than the first month rent price. It's irritating.

I'm glad you found a house. It is hard for leasers with pets, but I know a lot of people who are landlords and I see their perspective too. It is very costly to maintain a property, especially a rental property with the added tax burden.

I've seen houses and apartments where dogs destroyed the carpeting, woodwork, and kitchen cabinets. The deposit doesn't begin to cover the damage.

Then there is the issue of liability. Landlords shoulder a lot of responsibility for what goes on in their rental properties. If one of their tenants or their dogs does something to harm another person, the landlord can be held responsible.

It's tough for both sides.

I grew up in the Long Beach area ( Lakewood) what city are you in? Off subject: My Dad and Gparents are buried at the "All Souls Cemetery in Long Beach" I'm down there once a month. :D

That really sucks.. Thankfully when we were renting we were able to find a pet friendly condo. Hopefully you guys are able to find something!!

Maximo, I completely agree. Rents in our areas are about the same price with a month security plus two months rent, one of which you get back but not if someone breaks their lease. It is also $100 a month for a pet and usually one allowed.

I think they are afraid if someone can't afford that, they may not be able to keep up with their rent. It's easy to get someone to rent but very difficult to get them out.

lovespandp sounds like a great person with a well mannered dog and it's sorry she has to pay for all those that are not.

huh? I'm confused and what you are saying? :confused:

You mean Christinee. Lovespandp has a 4 pound terror who parties the roof off his house, lol. Kidding!! :D

It is hard for landlords to evict a tenant in most places. My friend in Chicago had a tenant who had not paid rent in a year and who had destroyed the condo.

It's too bad that the irresponsible people make life difficult for the responsible renters.

She meant the OP, Christinee.

You know it!!! :D

Ahh ok! LOL Geez I'm like 1/2 done with my coffee!!! :p

I need to sell my house since I'm alone now and financially I need to get out. Condos and townhomes wouldn't be any cheaper with taxes and HOA fees. With the 3 dogs, apartments won't rent to me. I found the perfect place, it's an over 55 community of modular homes (not trailers). They are really cute, small homes with yards. You don't pay taxes as you don't own the land. Right there it saves me 600.00 a month. I could sell my house and buy an older home outright there saving another 600.00 a month. The assessments are around 5-600 a month. That covers your water,basic cable, snow removal, lawn care and garbage pickup. I was so excited when I went to the sales office until they told me they have a 2 dog limit. So not an option for me because I have 3 dogs. No exceptions. I understand setting limits but I own the house and my dogs are not destructive to my house or property. But rules are rules. People say just don't tell them you have 3 and never let all 3 out at the same time. I'm an honest person and couldnt do that and I want to be able to walk all 3 at the same time and let them in my yard. Finding housing is a challenge with pets but I could never live with out them. I hope it works our for you!

As landlord, I also don't allow my tenants to have pets. That's always a hard one for me because I've had and loved pets all my life. I would never want to live without one (or two) but at the same time I deny families the most wonderful life that pet ownership allows.

Unfortunately, home repair is very expensive. I once had a tenant who was sneaky and had a puppy. I knew it because the deck spindles, wood stair treads and base trim were all chewed. I wish I had a looking glass and could see who would be a responsible pet owner, but it's impossible and there's too much risk in making a wrong decision. If there's a mortgage on the property $2000 in rent along with security deposit doesn't often go very far when considering that possible pet damage would above the standard items the security would cover. And it's not only the money, it's the hassle of having to coordinate and deal with the repairs if any are required.

This is a difficult issue on both sides. I wish you the best in your search.

I'm sorry to hear that the community has a 2 dog limit.

We want to downsize because it is getting to be too much for us to handle with dad not being able to do as much, but our house runs so efficiently (utilities) that it wouldn't save us any money to move to something smaller. Plus, our guys do bark and are not suitable for a condo/apartment.

such mixed feelings about this, first if it's an apartment or a condo that is for rent, you have the problem of barking which is disturbing for neighbors, then of course with dogs, especially the small ones you have the wetting problem. I would trust Lola not to wet indoors as long as I was able to let her out every 6 hours or so, but I know from having friends over with dogs most piddle or poop every time they come over. Some are dogs are extremely destructive with chewing, I knew one dog that managed to shred up wallpaper and a bunch of the carpet. When I met my husband he had a non de clawed cat in his apartment, the cat managed to shred up a bunch on the carpet as well as scratched the heck out of some of the wood work and made mince meat out of his sofa. The cat was an indoor cat so before he could bring her into the home I owned I made him declaw her, she was fine and my place was not destroyed.
On a side note I might be more inclined to rent to someone with one or two pets than with a few young children I am often appalled by the condition some homes and apartments are in when a few kids are living there.

I understand landlords who don't want tenants to have pets. We have a relative who let their cats piss all over one room. It stank -anyone who's smelt an un-neutered male will understand. You'd never know it to meet them, that they are the type to let that happen.
Many years ago, we lived in a street, where most of the homes were owned, we owned ours, the neighbours were a rental. One tenant, pooed on the carpets in the bedrooms. There were two working bathrooms. Human poop, as well as dog, who does that? The day they moved in, I heard wailing, so went over, the father had just died, they had a baby with them. They gave the baby to me, a stranger, to look after. The baby's skin made my flesh crawl, he was so filthy. I bathed him, dressed and fed him. He was adorable, but obviously these people like filth. The landlord sold the house cheap to people who were willing to gut it and clean it out. They said it was full of poo and fleas. We were so glad when they moved in, as you can guess.

I understand the landlord's point of view.
When my BF and I were looking for an apartment to live together, it was hard because we had Nena.
We found a nice place (where we live now). The apartment is big enough for us and the rent is good and the neighborhood is awesome.
The only problem the landlord had was that we had a dog.
They've had bad experience with previous tenants and pets and that's why they didn't want tenants with pets anymore.
After discussing with them an telling them how Nena behaves etc. They decided to let us in and gave us a proof period of 6 months. Within those 6 months they came to visit and to see how the house was and how Nena was and they liked that everything was ok and well taken care for that they gave us a 1 year contract.
When we decided to add Rufus to the family, we told them about our plans and they agreed with us :)

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.