LOS ANGELES (AP) – Man’s best friend is taking a bite out of renters’ wallets.
Pet security deposits register in the hundreds of dollars and are getting steeper. Now, a monthly rental payment ranging from $10 to $50 is quickly becoming the norm, adding to the cost. Apartment managers nationwide say they require some safety net against pet damage, while others won’t allow animals at all.
The rents and deposits pay for dog-poop picker-uppers, cleaning services and more, but some managers say they charge because they can. Many residents decry the move, arguing they are being bilked to keep their cats and canines.
“One out of 50 people will say, ‘I can’t believe you charge pet rent,’ but most accept it,” said Stacy Leighty, who manages over 400 properties in Salem, Oregon, and added the monthly fee after her financial adviser said it would boost revenue and is becoming more widespread.
With millions of people living in apartments, loads of pet owners are facing extra costs. That’s something Fred Lopez, of the small Los Angeles suburb of Hawaiian Gardens, isn’t happy about.