I paid a pet deposit along with my security deposit prior to moving into my apartment. I ended up not having my dog in the apartment but for 4 days before I realized I could not financially and physically care for him anymore. My landlord said he would "look into" returning the deposit, then completely ignored the issue. I have read in a lot of places that there is no such thing as "non-refundable" deposits, regardless of what the lease says. Also, the deposit was handwritten in on the lease. Please help me!
bkrayenh

Hello b:

They can keep your rental "deposit" because you didn't move in. It's NOT a damage deposit. If it was, they couldn't keep it because you caused no damage.

Same thing with the pet deposit. You never moved in, therefore your dog caused NO damage.

Sue him in small claims court. It's cheap, quick and easy.

excon

I paid a pet deposit along with my security deposit prior to moving into my apartment. I ended up not having my dog in the apartment but for 4 days before I realized I could not financially and physically care for him anymore. My landlord said he would "look into" returning the deposit, then completely ignored the issue. I have read in a lot of places that there is no such thing as "non-refundable" deposits, regardless of what the lease says. Also, the deposit was handwritten in on the lease. Please help me!
bkrayenh


It is not unusual for all deposits - security and pet - to be paid at the END of the tenancy. This keeps the tenant from moving one dog out and another dog in and going through the pet deposit hassle all over again. If I have a pet friendly unit I charge a pet deposit whether they have one or not because they have the ability to get one.

I think the landlord can hold the pet deposit until the end of the lease.