Pets and Security Deposits (2013, rental, to buy)

[Mr. In-Between]

So, when we move back, we're bringing 3 cats. It's very unlikely we'll buy our own place until we've been back for several months, so obviously we'll be renting for a while, and obviously that's going to be a problem. I remember from when I lived there before that it's difficult to get a rental when you have pets.

But what I was wondering was, do y'all think it would make a difference if we were to offer prospective landlords an additional thousand dollars or so on the security deposit? Two thousand? Is that something that's ever done? We're happy to do it; we don't need most of our funds until it's time to buy. Not like we'll be using the money for anything else all that time.

[OpenD]

As of November 2013 it will be legal for a landlord to take a security deposit of up to a month more for pets, on top of the current 1 month security deposit, and first month rent.

[Mr. In-Between]

Oh, thank you for the info! That might help. Maybe we even grease the skids a little by offering to pay an extra 50 bucks a month rent or whatever, to show good faith and make them feel better about taking a chance on us and the furballs. Sometimes you have to pay a little more for something that's important to you.

[Mr. In-Between]

Of course, just being a crocodile in the first place is often enough to discourage someone from renting to you. I know that many of you may find that hard to believe, but oddly enough it does seem to be the case for some obscure reason. My hope is that having 3 cats will assuage some of their concerns, on account of they'll probably figure that if I haven't devoured the cats yet, maybe I'm not so bad after all.

[whtviper1]

Originally Posted by Albert_The_Crocodile

Oh, thank you for the info! That might help. Maybe we even grease the skids a little by offering to pay an extra 50 bucks a month rent or whatever, to show good faith and make them feel better about taking a chance on us and the furballs. Sometimes you have to pay a little more for something that's important to you.

Offering extra rent is the best way to go - although $50/month may not cut it for 3 cats.

[OpenD]

Originally Posted by Albert_The_Crocodile

Oh, thank you for the info! That might help. Maybe we even grease the skids a little by offering to pay an extra 50 bucks a month rent or whatever, to show good faith and make them feel better about taking a chance on us and the furballs. Sometimes you have to pay a little more for something that's important to you.

You can always offer more rent, sure, but the landlord cannot take more deposit than is legally allowed.

For 3 cats, I'd say $50 a month is probably too low.

[Mr. In-Between]

Probably right. It's business; if and when we find the right situation, we'll negotiate an arrangement that both parties feel is fair. We own rental properties ourselves, so we know where the landlords are coming from. Certainly we expect to pay more for a deposit, and whatever we have to pay in rent is just whatever we have to pay to keep the family together, I guess.

Thanks again for the advice!