NC law and court judgements on tenants' pet causing massive carpet/pad damage?

[Margey501]

If I know a street address & it's subdivion name. Does anyone know how I can find the Management comnpany?

[RDUBiker]

Originally Posted by Margey501

If I know a street address & it's subdivion name. Does anyone know how I can find the Management comnpany?

In which county?

[bjwtaylor]

Quote posted by Mr. Rational:

"This **in advance** fee doesn't help your claim against them.
Taking it says you were aware of the risks associated with having a pet...
you even charged them in advance anticipating that damage would happen."

You are right to a degree, Mr. Rational, but it appears you are taking it too far. Requiring nonrefundable pet fees in advance is the norm here in NC. It's in almost all, if not all, standard contracts, including those pro vided by the realtors' associations, and they are approved by the state and the courts.

However, they do not free the tenants of liability for excessive damage by pets. Typically, they run $250 to $350, and the reason they are nonrefundable is that it is a given that some extra wear and tear, damage, and odor which permeates homes will be incurred.

But if a pet eats all the woodwork (door jambs, window sills, cabinet doors, doors themselves, and baseboards), as well as clawing walls requiring that they be spackled and repainted, as I have had both dogs and cats do, and urinates and defecates all over the carpet routinely, leaving a stench that will gag anyone and can't be eliminated without removing all carpet and padding and sealing flooring underneath, sometimes even removing subflooring, then $250 won't pay 10% of the costs incurred.

These were extreme cases, but the owners were IT people in one case, hospital ER staff in another, young women who went out directly after work, etc. They were all gone for excessively long periods and left the animals locked in the homes and apartments at all times. Since they were hardly home enough to even feed the pets, it was also cruel, but no one knew until the people moved out.

Courts don't turn a blind eye to that sort of damage. Tenants are responsible for damages beyond normal wear and tear, period. It doesn't matter how it was caused, but only if it was their fault and unreasonable and avoidable. And this certainly was.

[luckystrike77]

BUMPING
I am tenant. I have resided here more than 6 years. The home is maybe 11 years old. The carpet has never been replaced between tenants.. only 2, I am the second. The landlord did reside here before renting it initially.
I know about the pet deposit being non refundable and fully understand the extra 100.00 monthly rent was for my animal stay.

When moving I am doing all repairs if needed. My main repair is bringing in painters.Maybe? I painted colors and it is stated in the contract/lease that I am responsible for this.
My landlord has always been super nice, professional but nice.
As I stated and question at the same time is "My main repair is bringing in painters. Maybe?" due to the carpet.

The carpet is frayed where the bedroom doors open.
The carpet is stained from my teenager and those nifty projects.
As stated, animals as well. My dog got sick after eating something and what she threw up stained the carpets. I did visually remove the stains but it is carpet and it was soiled.
The stairs, the carpet has come loose to the point I can pick it up to vacuum on the main step at the bottom of the stairs.

Besides painters I am bringing in a cleaning crew for the kitchen, bathrooms, clean after I move out to make it easier on a out of state landlord to rent the place.

The home was not in A1 condition when I moved in but the carpet obviously did not need replacement back then. When I seek normal wear and tear I get many different answers, love Google. I have called apartments to see the laws and they state that carpet is replaced when pet tenants move out that is why there is a pet deposit.
Others tell me I am not responsible bc I have been here more than 5 years.
Then others tell me I my contract is null and void bc it is a California lease with this addy


I have been told not to say anything and when she is done with the walk through wait and see what is determined. The landlord is not doing the walk through with me due to her being across the country.

My deposit was only 250.00
250.00 animal deposit

any word of wisdom to share from landlords in NC?

[MrRational]

Originally Posted by luckystrike77

The home is maybe 11 years old.
The landlord did reside here before renting it initially.
The carpet has never been replaced between tenants.. only 2, I am the second.
I have resided here more than 6 years.

That sounds like the carpet might be original... 11 years old.
And if so... beyond it's useful life. Confirm this age if you can

I know about the pet deposit being non refundable
and fully understand the extra 100.00 monthly (pet) rent was for my animal stay.

When moving I am doing all repairs if needed.
any word of wisdom to share from landlords in NC?

Don't volunteer to do any repairs whatsoever.
Cleaning? Yes. Repair No.

My main repair is bringing in painters.

After six years the paint should also be beyond it's useful life.

...I am bringing in a cleaning crew for the kitchen, bathrooms,
clean after I move out to make it easier on a out of state landlord to rent the place.

That's nice.

The home was not in A1 condition when I moved in but...

Do you have any objective documentation of this? Photo's etc?

I have been told not to say anything
and when she is done with the walk through wait and see what is determined.

Ask for a "pre-moveout" inspection to inspect and discuss the specifics.
Follow that up with an "as per our chat this afternoon my understanding is..." letter.

My deposit was only 250.00250.00 animal deposit

The $100 extra rent (x12 x 6)... or $7200 will pay for a lot of freshening up.

[luckystrike77]

Originally Posted by MrRational

That sounds like the carpet might be original... 11 years old.
And if so... beyond it's useful life. Confirm this age if you can





After six years the paint should also be beyond it's useful life.


That's nice.


Do you have any objective documentation of this? Photo's etc?


Ask for a "pre-moveout" inspection to inspect and discuss the specifics.
Follow that up with an "as per our chat this afternoon my understanding is..." letter.

The $100 extra rent (x12 x 6)... or $7200 will pay for a lot of freshening up.

Thank you for your fast response
The extra 100.00 is for the rent of the animals. It doesn't say in the contract that it was for pets. The landlord simply put X amount due by the 1st. There is nothing written about the pets and why she went up 100.00, the pets are the reason. Catch 22 type deal I feel.
Repairs such as pulling nails out of the walls. My cat scratched on a door frame when locked in a room. Simple things like that.
The carpet is original.

I'm not painting the entire home but instead the "colorful" rooms. Its in the contract if I painted to have them returned to the original. Lovely dark red, I am painting It will cost me a hundred bucks.

Yes I have photos dated back when we moved in. My landlord told me during the first walk through the home was cheaply made. Thrown up within months. The crown molding doesn't match up properly. Crown molding was not placed around the fireplace so it appears the fireplace is falling out when it is secure. The wooden floors do match up, meaning there are gaps in the floor. Not real wood floors. I took photos.

As far as the cleaning crew, I may not have to go this route? Depends on how I feel. I am the mover, cleaner,mom, hands are kinda full and I don't want to loose my mind. The home is so big that I have tackled the areas we haven't spent much time in. My main concern was kitchen, bathrooms, baseboards, vents, cleaning out the washer and dryer from pet hair in vents. Pet hair, I take care of it daily but they continue to shed.
My flat iron left a burn mark on the bathroom counter but a little scrub so soft and pad seems to be removing it slowly.

This is my first time renting from a private landlord.
People ask why I moved in here knowing things where not proper.
Answer: School district. Safe neighborhood, I have no complaints.

We have been on a 30 day lease for 6 years. No raise in rent. I feel the landlord has been good to me and want to my best to make sure she knows I appreciate it. I try to keep good references.