So frustrated! I have a tenant that melted the new countertops, melted inside the FREEZER

So frustrated! I have a tenant that melted the new countertops, melted inside the FREEZER, burned a hole in the carpet, hole in a door and a wall. Didn't give a 30 day notice and just moved out! She won't get her $500 deposit back, but I have to give her the $250 pet deposit back for her cat! Frustrating to give money back to someone who will now owe me for damages!! Do you ever keep the pet deposit when they owe you for other damages??

You don't keep all deposits if monies are owed?

I've heard you can't keep pet deposits if it's not pet damage??? Will be interesting to see what others say.

Libby Spencer you need to call the additional deposit an “additional deposit” and not a pet deposit, and then you can keep it.

Arlene Chasen Smadja or call it a pet fee. Fees are no refundable.

I would apply all deposits for damages and send a bill for the rest. Laws may differ from state to state though.

I've never heard of refundable deposits for pets! Those have always been non-refundable at my props.

Did she have renter's insurance? Some policies will reimburse for this under fire damage.

Read the lease. You might be able to use the pet deposit for the damages

All the deposits go toward damages and balance owed. They just pay an additional deposit for the pet due to the risk the owner takes by accepting animals, not just for "pet only" damages.

In Washington, the pet deposit cannot be applied to non-pet damages, so check with your attorney and your state laws.

If she had a cat...I’m sure there is an odor of some sort, and I thought that if they owed money that no monies are given back

Derek Higgins plus there’s got to be cat hair in that carpet or maybe some flees. Put a white sheet of paper on the floor in each room and if there are flees, you’ll find them.

I would find a receipt for $250 for a pet treatment and charge her account

All deposits should be combined! Just because you say “pet deposit” does not mean it’s a separate deposit. At least it’s not here in CA.

Remove the "pet" part of the deposit and just say it's part of deposit on future leases

You can identify a separate “animal fee” as non-refundable.
Recently, I had a fellow that punched holes in the wall. It made me feel good to see that one attempt his hit landed on a wood stud. I’m sure he broke a few bones.

If you are in Seattle then pet deposit can only go toward pet damage but I’m not aware of other places that follow that same rule.

Not if you calm it a pet deposit. Deposit is refundable. Fee is not. Many states only allow deposit up to a certain amount. You cannot just add multiple music. Deposits.

We charge an “additional deposit” that is refundable if there is no additional damage. It does not necessarily apply to pet damage though.

In MO we have to give a pet deposit back if there is no pet damage whether or not they owe for resident-caused damages, rent, etc

If they owe for damages and skip out, they get nothing back. I’m fact, I charge back the deposit and pet deposit on their statement.

We write up the pet deposit as an additional security deposit. It is not limited to pet damages but just tacked on to the regular deposit.

In Texas our leases say that any deposits go to damages no matter what the cause. You skip and I can guarantee you’ll have a bill.

What state are you in?
In Texas, you skip, then you owe money.... no refunds. Not even pet.
Best of luck to you.

Heck yes!! Deposit is a deposit, the deposit ledger doesn’t discriminate by WHAT kind of deposit it is.

If our residents have a pet they pay an increased security deposit so it can be used for anything. It’s not a pet deposit.

I stopped collected a “pet deposit” some years ago for this very reason. You have to refund a “pet” deposit if the pet did no damage. Instead, if they have a pet and I’m collecting a deposit, I call it an additional deposit. I show the total deposit on the lease without differentiating that’s it security or pet. Now I can use ALL the deposit against damages the humans do!!

We also don’t charge a “pet deposit” we charge an extra half a months rent deposit if they have a pet but it’s not differentiated on the lease or deposit agreement. If they had a pet, I’m sure there was an accident or two or more on the carpeting, charge for that damage. Any smell?

in Texas the pet deposit becomes a general security deposit for all purposes. You can retain it for damages or rent owed

We apply all deposits to all damage. Deposit is a deposit for damage no matter what.