Does nonrefundable pet deposit cover?

Under California law, your landlord cannot make your security deposit non-refundable, even if it’s intended to cover pet damage, and the total deposit – not including the first and last month’s rent – can’t exceed the equivalent of two months’ rent if the dwelling is unfurnished.

Can a security deposit be used for pet damage?

It is possible to use the security deposit to cover the repair costs for pet damage if you don’t charge a pet deposit or pet fee. If you decide to charge a pet deposit and/or pet fee, beware that some states don’t allow landlords to use money from the security deposit for any pet damage.

Can a tenant keep part of a pet deposit?

If a tenant’s pet causes damage, prepare an itemized list of repair costs to explain why you are keeping all or a portion of the pet deposit. Similar to other deposits, if the pet didn’t cause any damage, then the tenant must receive their pet deposit back in full. What Is Pet Rent? Unlike pet fees and deposits, pet rent is charged once a month.

Can a property manager hold a security deposit?

(Civil Code section 1950.5). From a practical aspect, since Civil Code section 1950.5 is written in terms of the landlord’s duties to his or her tenant and any security deposit, it is suggested that all property managers do not hold any tenant’s security deposit for a prolonged period.

How long does a landlord have to return a security deposit?

The average deadline for return is about 30 days from the commencement of the tenancy, but some states allow the landlord as many as 60, or in rare cases, as few as 5 days to return. What happens if a landlord does not return the security deposit?

Can a landlord use a pet deposit as a security deposit?

Even where allowed, separate pet deposits can be a bad idea for landlords because they limit how the security deposit may be used. For example, if a tenant’s dog is well-behaved, but the tenant trashes the apartment, the landlord can’t use the pet portion of the deposit to clean up after the tenant.

Can a pet deposit be refunded if there is damage?

Be sure to check your state and local law on deposits. Pet deposits are refundable depending on any damage incurred by the animal. If you inspect the property upon move-out and notice damage, take the following steps, as you would when refunding a traditional security deposit:

What happens when a tenant returns a security deposit?

For example, tenant’s early termination of lease, or damages the tenant is responsible for, yet does not pay for. Upon termination of the lease, if the landlord returns the security deposit to the tenant then nothing concerning said deposit is reported anywhere.

Is it legal to charge a pet deposit?

However, while general security deposits are legal in every state, separate pet deposits are only legal in some. If your state does allow you to charge a separate pet deposit in addition to the security deposit, determining the cost may depend on a variety of factors, including the type of pet, size, and the value of the property.