Animal Campanion Housing Discrimination

[lat192004]

Hello Forum members:

I would like to start poll. It's misson is to find out if you are being denied housing because you have a companion pet. I have two large cats that are my constant companions. I have a large house that I might have to sell, and moving into a condo is an option I have thought about. I could not even think of moving into a condo without my cats, but right now in my state there are no laws preventing a land lord or condo association from telling you no pets allowed. I will provide on this poll two options: Yes, I can have pets in my housing or NO, pets are prohibited. If no, please reply with your state. For your information, here is a bill in Hawaii that is being held up right now...Click on the attachment to see......Thanks..Lat19 Hawaii..Please note I have nothing to do with animalrights.net, this site is where GOOGLE took me for a description of the bill up for passage in Hawaii...

http://www.animalrights.net/articles/2004/000082.html

[guster girl]

I live in a townhome, and, they charge a pet deposit and a monthly pet rent (I think it's $10 extra a month per pet). When searching for apartments, a lot of the ones in my price range that I found allowed pets, but, most of them had weight restrictions (usually about 25 lbs or less) and most of those had restrictions on the number of pets (usually two). There were VERY few that had no restrictions at all. BUt, they are out there. It just took me about 30 minutes on moveforfree.com to find them. I've always lived in houses and/or apartments that allowed pets, simply because I'd not live somewhere that didn't. But, it's taken me a lot more research to find those places. But, with the internet, it's not that hard.

[lat192004]

Pet Rent??!!!!?? What is this? I can see the weight restrictions, you would not want a Mastif running around on the 3rd floor. I can see the the deposit, if your pet causes damage, this would pay for it. But I fail to see any reason for the $10 surcharge for having your pet live with you?Well, guess the important thing is you get to have a pet in your condo.

[G.P.girl]

oooooh does that mean if they pass that bill i can have a doggy in my rental house? they don't allow it now, we were barely allowed tokeep cadbury here

[lat192004]

Hello G.P. This bill is yet to be passed in Hawaii, it only concerns Hawaii. You should check out the ASPCA's web site, and find out what your state is doing regarding this legislation. I think they are at... http://www.aspca.org... click on the "lobby"tab at the top of their home page ... ASPCA has a form letter you can e-mail to your reps if this issue is up for vote in your state;

Lat19-Hawaii

[G.P.girl]

hi,
ooo i'll email them! then maybe i could finally get a great dane! i'm already looking for a new house (my mom doesn't know that yet) even though our lease isn't up til august or something. lol

[guster girl]

A lot of places (at least around the DFW metroplex) charge pet rent in apartments and townhomes, etc. I'm not sure about houses. I'm not sure why, but, I've had to pay it before.

[lat192004]

Originally posted by guster girl
A lot of places (at least around the DFW metroplex) charge pet rent in apartments and townhomes, etc. I'm not sure about houses. I'm not sure why, but, I've had to pay it before.

Yeah, I have heard about this, too. Many listings I have checked say up front if pets are allowed or not, but I think the surcharge for pets is like the myserious"deposit fee" you never get back when leaving the apartment. Is this fee for pets stated in the contract? That's B.S. about paying extra for a pet(s). No logic I can see except to charge this just because they can. I was contemplating a Condo last year out of state, and most if not all said pets were OK, but no mention about any extra fee

Lat-Hawaii

[sirrahved]

I think it's fine if people don't want to let others live in their establishments because of pets. Animals can do damage (look at my spraying cat--all over our rented apartment!)

[Logan]

I didn't vote because I own my home and can do what I please, within reason. We could never rent a home with the brood we have here. But when I first moved into rental property, after my separation from my first husband, everywhere I rented had some rules or restrictions. Our cat, Mimi, was never a problem, thankfully, and at the time, I didn't have a dog. When I did get a dog, thankfully, I had a forgiving and understanding landlord. When I moved to Greenville, and rented a house, I did pay extra every month (about $25 extra, if I remember correctly), for the right to have the dog (a Cocker Spaniel) and the cat (Mimi) with me. I was sure happy when I could be a home owner and not have to worry about that anymore!!!

Logan

[minkyboodle]

I think it is reasonable that alot of places could deny people having pets. I've seen apartments get destroyed over people who do not properly take care of their animals. Another thing is especially with dogs, a big dog takes alot bigger poo...and then someone steps in it....yuck!

Also barking, most times bigger dogs have louder barking and once again alot of people don't take care of their animals enough or know how to stop this behavior.

If a law was passed that made places accept pets of all kinds, well...there would definately be an increase in the amount of money paid for a pet deposit and possibly pet rent.

I feel bad for both parties involved, the loving pet owners that want their companions and also the apartment/rental owners who want to keep their places nice.

[lat192004]

Originally posted by sirrahved
I think it's fine if people don't want to let others live in their establishments because of pets. Animals can do damage (look at my spraying cat--all over our rented apartment!)

OK then, I can see the logic of the pet surcharge. I also see the reason why many companion pet bills are stalled.Maybe that is where Hawaii's bill is. There has to be restrictions in the bill, maybe limit the companion bill to 1 pet, and size/ weight. etc. I guess when you are thinking Condo/apartment that when choosing a pet common sense would prevail. Not the case.

[Uabassoon]

I live in a small apartment and they allow me to have my cats. I was supposed to pay a $99 fee per cat but for some reason they just charged me $99 and said not to worry about it. I don't have to pay pet rent or anything else like that. At my last apartment I had to put down a deposit for my cat and pay an extra $10 a month for pet rent.

[lat192004]

Hi UBA;

I see the logic of a fee now. Common sense would dictate to maybe limit your pet in an apartment/condo to something small.

[catland]

I became a landlord last year with the purchase of a rental home. It doesn't have a fenced yard so we didn't allow dogs but do allow cats. Our tenant has two kitties and I know it would have been a deal-breaker if we didn't allow them and he has been a great tenant.

On the other hand, I once lived in a duplex that allowed cats but not dogs and the people in the unit next to me got a dog. This dog just trashed the place. I wish now that I had reported them imediately to the owners.

I hope the bill in Hawaii is struck down. Just thinking about my own property, I think I should be able to reserve the right to have or to not have pets in my house. At least with the way it now, the renters with pets are the more truely dedicated ones because they have to work harder to find a place to live. I think this kind of law could backfire as the more flakey types out there (not any PT members of course ) would get a pet on a whim and then just leave it when they moved.