We paid our landlord $200 pet deposit for each of our dogs when we moved in our rental home. She has since gotten a divorce, making her ex-husband our new landlord. When we re-signed a lease agreement after the divorce, he said all of the deposits would transfer over. Now we are moving out and he's told us that the pet deposit is all non-refundable. The thing is, in the lease agreement only the security deposit is spelled out, there is nothing about a pet deposit. Where do we go from here? I don't remember anything about a non-refundable deposit but there is no proof anywhere. Any help is much appreciated. Thanks!

Do you have a copy of your original lease? That would be helpful. Normally, though, a pet deposit is non-refundable. Does it say in the current lease that a deposit for the pets was even made?
Your best bet is to go back and see what the original lease says.

I do have a copy of the original lease and it's not stated in either. The only thing I have is reciepts showing that I paid it.

Hello princess:

Unless your pet did damage, the deposit IS refundable just like any other damage deposit. It ISN'T a windfall for the landlord even though lots of them think so.

If he doesn't return it along with your other damage deposit within the time frame required by your state, sue him in small claims court. You can find your states landlord tenant laws right here, on this forum at the top in a sticky note.

excon