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If we paid a $600 non-refundable pet deposit on our apartment...?
My roommate and I moved into an apartment, and we each paid $300 for our cats for a total of $600. We also paid a security deposit of $150. When I spoke to the office to let them know that we were moving out, she told me that we would get the security deposit back if the apartment was clean and nothing was broken. Nothing is broken, and we plan on cleaning, but the carpet was peed on by my roommate's cat several times in two spots in the same room. My roommate believes that the apartment complex can charge us for the cost to replace the carpet after we have moved out. How can they do that if we paid them $600, non refundable, for pet damage? Is she right or would that $600 cover us? We live in Florida. We doubt we'll get the $150 back as that hardly ever happens, but I just want to find out if it's legal to charge us above and beyond the $600 for pet damage. Any advice is appreciated!
Chatsplas: We were going to do this already, we have already arranged for someone to come clean the carpets. If afterwards there is no trace of the smell and no stains and the apartment is left clean, is $600 enough to cover a living room carpet?!
The room is 17'x15' 6". Only that one room needs the intensive cleaning, and we are hiring a professional carpet cleaning company to come do this. I feel like Chatsplas is accusing us of leaving this place disgusting when we leave, and that is not true. We are responsible tenants. I just feel like $600 is already an exorbitant price that we won't get back, and to think we could be asked for MORE on top of it seems ridiculous.
7 Answers
- TheRavenAZLv 78 years agoFavorite Answer
The pet deposit should legally cover all pet damages. If the cost of the damages goes over, they could bill you or take it from your security deposit.
$600 is a lot for a pet deposit, especially a non refundable one. Someone really took advantage of you there.
- Anonymous5 years ago
The $300 pet deposit is non refundable...this was paid just for the privilege of allowing you to have a pet. Applying it towards any damages would make it refundable...which it's not.
- Linda RLv 78 years ago
The only thing, a landlord can give back to you, is the security deposit. Remember, the pet deposit is NON-REFUNDABLE...meaning - you do NOT get it back.
- R PLv 78 years ago
The pet fee is a non-refundable charge for the privilege of having animals in your apartment. That is all it is - it will not be applied to the cost of replacing the carpet, padding, and subflooring (if that is needed). You are responsible for the cost to replace the carpet if the professional cleaner cannot remove all traces of urine. BTW, cat urine is visible under black light.
Source(s): FL landlord - How do you think about the answers? You can sign in to vote the answer.
- glennLv 78 years ago
My experience with regular steam clean is it makes any pet smells much stronger rather than help them. I would use a dry chem or such to be sure that no smells are left. If the carpet is stained and no way to remove it then you will have to pay to replace the carpet and that will probably be more than the $600. If there is no smell or stain then everything would be fine.
- chatsplasLv 78 years ago
Rent a steam cleaner and clean the carpeting after first pre-treating pee spots with enzyme pet odor
READ the contract/lease/deposit on the $600....nonrefundable deposits may not be applied to damages in many cases
Your $150 is for the apartment in general
And if LL has to replace the carpeting, you'll be sued for the full cost, so take action NOW to avoid that
Besides it is the responsible thing to do, remove the damage you guys created
This is why MANY LLs do not permit pets, and why MANY LLs have nonrefundable pet deposits
It is your joint responsibility as tenants to remove any dirt you created--including pee and poo and pet hairs and odors--as no one else should have to deal with your dirt
It will cost far more than $600 plus $300 to undo this damage
Absolutely legal to charge you for all damage you do, whether covered by deposit or in excess of deposit. . . .deposit is NOT a limit on what you can be charged. . . .the limit is the amount of damage you create
Source(s): real estate investor - Anonymous8 years ago
Most places are just looking for money and don't care that much about the tenants. It's possible that they will charge you. If they do, I would just suggest asking for a invoice on what each charge was and then argue it. Most times, businesses don't like a fight especially when they're in the wrong.
Source(s): Similar problem happened with one of my apartments.
