Apartment owners and managers respond that pets require extra upkeep.
Usually, big apartment-management companies are the ones that come up with some kind of standard pricing based on how much extra damage they expect pets to cause. The thinking is that because pets leave a mark on the community, pet owners should help pay for the extra upkeep.
In other words, landlords say that the inevitable wear and tear that animals cause justifies pet deposits and monthly pet rent. As long as they apply such charges on a nondiscriminatory basis, landlords can legally charge pet rent.
Not all landlords choose to do so. Some find that their property is more competitive without these fees. Others may charge a one-time nonrefundable fee or an extra refundable deposit and skip monthly pet rent.
These charges affect pet owners' rental decisions. So if you are a landlord who accepts pets, think about whether your tenants will look elsewhere if you levy these fees. And think about how much extra expense pets in your properties have required before you set the fees.
