Pet Rent?

[whtviper1]

I don't think 1 month of pet deposit is going to make all that much of a difference and it will be interesting to see what this bill does to people in existing properties when the lease is up - it could mean an unexpected pet deposit for a place you are already living in.

[OpenD]

Originally Posted by MitchTempo

Recently a law was passed which takes effect in November regarding pet deposits, so there is hope for people with pets yet.

Here's the summary description of that bill, now signed into law by the gov, from the lege website, emphasis mine:

Description:
Permits a landlord to hold a tenant's security deposit for the purpose of paying for damages caused by a pet animal residing in the premises. Authorizes a landlord as a condition of a rental agreement to add to the security deposit an amount for a pet animal to reside in the premises; provided that no landlord shall require any additional security deposit amount for an assistance animal that is a reasonable accommodation for a tenant with a disability. Effective for rental agreements entered into on or after 11/01/2013.

SB328 SD1.DOC

To be noted, the landlord can ask any additional amount of deposit they wish. Without a pet they are limited to an amount equal to a month's rent, but for an animal there is no limit.

Gives new meaning to that old refrain, "How much is that doggy in the window?"

[Dthraco]

Originally Posted by whtviper1

it could mean an unexpected pet deposit for a place you are already living in.

Glad it says - "Effective for rental agreements entered into on or after 11/01/2013."

[hunterseat]

YAY! Keeping animals out of the hands of those convicted of cruelty. Now if we could just afford children the same protection. :/

[CyberCity]

Originally Posted by Dthraco

Glad it says - "Effective for rental agreements entered into on or after 11/01/2013."

Although there is the possibility that a landlord who is currently renting to a pet owner, and if the landlord wants to now collect a pet deposit due to that option coming about, will simply wait for the current lease to "run out", or to go month-to-month, and then write up a new lease with a pet deposit required.

What to take away from this: If you are a current pet owner who rents, be sure to have well-behaved pets so that the landlord does not just wait it out until they can make a new lease that includes a pet deposit.

[CyberCity]

There is a limit on how much a pet deposit can be: one month's rent. The final version of SB328 SB1 HD2 CD1 that was passed into law states [my bolds]:

(4) Compensate for damages under subsection (b) caused by any pet animal allowed to reside in the premises pursuant to the rental agreement.

(b) The landlord may require, as a condition of a rental agreement, a security deposit to be paid by or for the tenant for the items in subsection (a) and no others[,] in an amount not in excess of a sum equal to one month's rent[.], plus an amount agreed upon by the landlord and tenant to compensate the landlord for any damages caused by any pet animal allowed to reside in the premises pursuant to the rental agreement; provided that the additional security deposit amount for a pet animal under this subsection:
(1) Shall not be required:

(A) From any tenant who does not have a pet animal that resides in the premises; or
(B) For an assistance animal that is a reasonable accommodation for a tenant with a disability pursuant to section 515-3; and
(2) Shall be in an amount not in excess of a sum equal to one month's rent.

Testimony submitted stated that there are now more pets on Oahu than school age children (more than 700,000 cats and dogs), an estimated 265,000 dogs as pets on Oahu, and that 60% of Oahu homes have at least one pet.

This change to the law will hopefully allow landlords to have a larger financial comfort zone about renting to pet owners, which should open up more rentals to households with pets.

[whtviper1]

The pet deposit rule isn't going to have much of an impact - here is why:

The state is renter friendly - it is easy - really east - for a renter to go to small claims court when a landlord withholds security deposit. It is a huge hassle. Landlords hate to go to small claims - and I guarantee they won't on a landlords side when he submits a bunch of bills against the security deposit - it generally turns into - well, you could have done that cheaper - but the biggest pet issue is carpet - and you can't just replace carpet at full value. Nor, can you replace other stuff at full value when a pet has torn up something - it is depreciated value.

If you have a pet - offer more rent. That is your best bet. That means you need to offer more rent and pay more deposit - that is all this bill does.

[hunterseat]

Thank God we don't have carpet. No... puppy-girl's only had one accident so far and it was on a bath mat. (she got the right room!) I pay more rent. No deposit. Well, no pet deposit, specifically. Our deposit is a month's rent.

I second the thought of pet owners making sure their pets are civilized.