Dogs are Expensive!

I've been extremely busy trying to find an apartment in Northern Virginia from California, and I'm astonished at how expensive Loki is! Every apartment complex I've called charges a pet fee of $300 - 400. It's not an extra deposit that you can get back if you leave the apartment in good condition. (I can understand an additional deposit. This is what we have now at our current apartment.) It's a non-refundable fee just for having a pet. Three to four hundred dollars! It's price discrimination that landlords can get away with; no one is going to legislate otherwise.

I say, Grrrrrrrr, to the landlords.

4 comments:

Maya said...

I've heard of those outrageous charges too. It's loco! That's why I can't wait until I'm able to buy a house. Good luck with the search!

Anonymous said...

I feel your pain!!!!! I am lucky my current landlord owns the unit Iam in and waived the fee... Its crazy what they can get away with!! Its free money to them, Good Luck with your move.

Anonymous said...

You act as if they are trying to get away with something illegal with the dog fee. This is normal practice. You have to realize that animals can do a lot of damage and significant additional wear and tear, some of which does not show up until after you leave (ie flees and worms in carpet from eggs etc.). You made the choice to own a pet they did not make if for you. They own the building, you do not have to live there if you don't like the rules. If you don't want to pay the pet fees, don't get a pet or buy your own place and do what you want. You need to look at if from both sides of the coin.

Vi said...

Dear Shibaowninglandlord,

I absolutely do not believe that the practice of price discrimination is or should be illegal. But with that said, I am still entitled to be unhappy and grumble about having to pay for it. Obviously, I am willing to pay; after all, I did. And of course, the value of having a dog exceeds the costs he incurs. This is why I have a dog.

As a landlord, you can charge whatever you want given the constraints of the market (that is, your competitors and the demand). If you are able to charge a pet fee, you will. And if I were in the rental business, I’m sure that I would charge too. But as a consumer, I pay, I grumble, and I don’t think there is anything wrong with that behavior.

~ Vi

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