"Dog Rent" (Denver, Boulder: apartment, rentals, home)

[Sean Kellogg]

What a ridiculous concept. I ended up finding an apartment in Boulder without this, but 90% of the dog-friendly places I saw had this.

[chilaili]

Yes they do, what's your point? Almost all apartment rentals in the area have a pet rent requirement. It's annoying but there it is.

[reenzz]

Actually, most landlords will charge a non-refundable pet fee PLUS pet rent. If you ever owned your own property, you would understand that it is not a ridiculous concept.

[JrzDefector]

As a lifelong dog owner, I think this is only understandable. Otherwise, what motive would a landlord have to rent to someone with pets? Even the best ones can cause a lot of damage.

[Sean Kellogg]

Originally Posted by reenzz

Actually, most landlords will charge a non-refundable pet fee PLUS pet rent. If you ever owned your own property, you would understand that it is not a ridiculous concept.

I do own an apt. in NYC and allow dogs. Still think dog/pet rent is a ridiculous concept, as is a fee.

Originally Posted by JrzDefector

As a lifelong dog owner, I think this is only understandable. Otherwise, what motive would a landlord have to rent to someone with pets? Even the best ones can cause a lot of damage.

Which is why you require a massive deposit. It's also rational to inspect your property at regular intervals, which is what I do.

[JrzDefector]

Originally Posted by Sean Kellogg

I do own an apt. in NYC and allow dogs. Still think dog/pet rent is a ridiculous concept, as is a fee.



Which is why you require a massive deposit. It's also rational to inspect your property at regular intervals, which is what I do.

What's the difference between "pet rent" and a massive deposit? A massive deposit just means you could end up scaring off someone who may not have the ready cash but would otherwise be a good renter, while a monthly installment is much more doable for many people.

[Sean Kellogg]

Originally Posted by JrzDefector

What's the difference between "pet rent" and a massive deposit?

What's the different between a "human rent" rent and a deposit? The answer is you get a deposit back, provided there is no damage. Rent, you don't get back. It's the price to live there.

My last tenants got every cent of their deposit back, because their dog (a boxer) was well behaved and didn't damage a thing. There were no complaints from other neighbors. The place didn't even really need cleaning when they left (but I had it professionally cleaned anyway). Had I been charging her some idiotic "pet rent" of $50/month or whatever, that's $1,800 in my pocket that they'd never get back. Had her dog caused damage, I would've simply taken it out of her deposit. Pet rent charges people a non-refundable fee on a monthly basis (and often a bigger fee up front, too, as another poster described) simply for having a pet, not because the pet caused any damage.

[mic111]

I would say it is a regional difference. In this area it is very common. Other areas not so much. In some areas it is common to include utilities in some areas of the country it isn't. You'll have to get used to this as there will be much that is done differently than back home. Try not to talk to people about it though. There is not much that tires people out quicker than a newcomer who complains that everything they don't like is different than back home where it was done right/better/smarter etc. Just know it is very common and your new rental may start charging you for it next year when they raise the rent.

[Sean Kellogg]

Originally Posted by mic111

I would say it is a regional difference. In this area it is very common. Other areas not so much. In some areas it is common to include utilities in some areas of the country it isn't. You'll have to get used to this as there will be much that is done differently than back home. Try not to talk to people about it though. There is not much that tires people out quicker than a newcomer who complains that everything they don't like is different than back home where it was done right/better/smarter etc. Just know it is very common and your new rental may start charging you for it next year when they raise the rent.

I signed a two-year lease, so I'd be surprised if my rent were increased next year, or if my landlord started charging dog rent.

I moved to Boulder six weeks ago. I've joined a handful of vibrant running and dog-related MeetUps. Four times now, in conversation with people in these gatherings, the subject of dog rent has been brought up by the other people -- and three of them have been Boulder/Denver natives. They were just as flabbergasted with this ridiculous concept as I am, and they didn't seem tired at all by the conversation -- in fact, it was a great icebreaker to different, more positive threads of conversation. But thanks for the insight -- I'm glad I wasn't the one who brought it up. I enjoy getting to the root of concepts like this rather than just shrugging and saying "it's regional."

[TCHP]

Simple supply and demand. Whether native or transplant, Boulder is desirable enough that people can charge what they want for rents, deposits, fees, etc and someone is willing to pay it.