New Home, New Problems

[COlandlord]

"with the prior written approval of Landlord"

So..did you get the written approval of landlord to have the pet? If not, the landlord has the right to deny you that right. Management, per your lease makes the final decision. Management doesn't find it acceptable to accept a pet without a deposit. If you don't want to pay the pet deposit then the management has the right to deny you one.

 

[Searchertwin]

dharvell;3203360]Ooo, yeah. You all caught me. We moved from a place that didn't allow pets to a place that did. So, as an agreement to my daughters, as soon as we settled into our new place, we got a dog, as promised.

With your help we did catch you. You knew from the beginning, "as soon" and "a promise", that you were going to get a pet.

"Oh, what a tangled web we weave when first we practice to device".
This web is about $700.00


Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour

 

[sandyclaus]

By moving the pet in AFTER the lease is signed, it seems to me that OPs intent was to try to get out of the additional deposit requirement for having it. I don't buy for a minute that they just suddenly decided to get the pet after the fact, but instead tried to cleverly take advantage of the significant deposit reduction for not having one when they signed the lease.

I'm just wondering if that signed lease specifies that NO PETS were going to be occupying the premises when they moved in? If so, just having the pet on the premises should be a violation of the lease and could subject them to termination of the lease. Of course, that addendum would be entirely appropriate then, in order to legitimize the additional 4-footed occupant and keep them from having to move out. In such a situation, NOT signing the addendum just reinforces the management's position and gives them a reason to terminate the lease.

Ooo, yeah. You all caught me. We moved from a place that didn't allow pets to a place that did. So, as an agreement to my daughters, as soon as we settled into our new place, we got a dog, as promised. The lease made no mention of additional deposits, for pets. I thought this was a help site, not amateur hour.

For those of you who ARE making an attempt to help, by requesting the language of our lease, thank you for your time. Here is the part of our lease that mentions pets. No other mention is made:

SECURITY DEPOSIT: A security deposit in the amount of $299.00 is due and payable upon signing of this Agreement for the faithful performance of all items and conditions of this Agreement and the Community Rules and Regulations.

PETS: Tenant may have one (1) registered "domesticated" pet per household with the prior written approval of Landlord. A monthly charge, as contained in the section of this Lease entitled "Monthly Charges", will be assessed to Tenant for the approved pet. Tenant is solely and totally responsible for the behavior of their pets. Noisy, unruly, or dangerous pets, those commonly known for aggressive behavior, as well as exotic pets will not be allowed in Community. Management shall have the final determination as to the acceptability of any pet. Failure to abide by the Rules and Regulations of the Community will result in the loss of this privilege.

We paid the $299 security deposit, plus a $99 closing fee. We have accepted the additional $25 per month that was added to our rent, for having a pet. No other mention to additional fees, or deposits are made, anywhere (no other language pertaining to pets, or any other extra fees, of any kind). However, they are now demanding that, since we DID get a pet (as it was allowed by our lease), they suddenly want to nail us for an additional $700 that is not mentioned anywhere in the lease.

So, indeed, you did try to stick it to the management. I KNEW that it wasn't a sudden decision to get that pet, and that your intention was to get one all along - and you tried to be sneaky and take advantage of the "move in without a pet" deposit special to avoid the additional deposit you KNEW that having the pet would require.

And you got caught, BIG-TIME.

The part you DIDN'T get away with is the part that says that management has to give you PRIOR WRITTEN APPROVAL before adding a pet to your household. If you had the pet before you moved in, the lease would have addressed it. Since you were caught trying to deceive the LL, you now require WRITTEN APPROVAL for the new pet in the house - which would be in the form of that Pet Addendum, and which I suspect will ONLY be provided once you have paid the additional pet deposit as required by management.

Too bad, so sad. Guess you'll have to pay up after all, or be subjected to eviction for violating the terms of your lease. Pet friendly or not, it doesn't excuse your attempt to defraud the management into waiving a pet deposit which you are obligated to pay for the privilege of having the pet.

Karma really is a fickle (female dog).