My fiancé and I rent a unit on a month-to-month lease. I was given a very beautiful puppy for my birthday by my fiancé. We had previously spoken to our property managers regarding possibly getting a pet "one day" and they said their new leases now allowed for small dogs - we have not seen or signed this "new lease." There have been previous tenants with pets who were not charged deposits and were basically given a "blind eye" as to the fact they were in the residence - unless it is a cat, the manager is allergic and evicts anyone found with one immediately. After giving us a 3-day/30 day notice to get rental insurance and pay an additional deposit of $600 for our puppy or be evicted we did both. However, we have received a call from the property management that they did not want us to write "Pet Deposit" on the money order for the pet deposit! This seems very shady to me and I am worried that they are simply looking for a way around refunding us our deposit when we eventually move.

I've done some research and by CA law no more than 2 times the amount of rent can be charged for a deposit. Our initial deposit was only $300 so this would not increase us past that amount. Should we refuse to not label the money as a pet deposit since that is why they are requesting it? Can they legally ask us to do this? Please help with any advice that you may have...

I don't understand WHY they wouldn't want you to identify the additional deposit as a pet deposit & I would ask them for a full explanation of that. Also, I would demand a written receipt for the additional deposit. Sounds very odd- I'm in property management/real estate and I can't imagine doing business that way.

Your lease is only a contract, if you don't agree with the terms, cross it out and initial it. You may have to move, but remember it you don't agree with the terms of the lease don't sign it. Has for not putting a note on the check DO IT! Put it on in big RED LETTERS!! Pet Deposit, than look up the rules in CA regarding deposit.

Link to California if necessary file complaint:

http://www.dca.ca.gov/legal/landlordbook/

Hello CaliGirl:

Although I don't disagree with the answers you received so far, there is another way to skin a cat.

First. The pet deposit, is a pet deposit because that's what it is. A clerk can't rename it because a clerk wants to. If some clerk (and that's what this person is) doesn't want you to write deposit on the check, fine. You can document it easily in other ways without antagonizing the clerk. Certainly the lease agreement should spell it out. Before you do anything, read it. If it doesn't say what you want, write it in. If they won't let you, move.

Secondarily, I don't understand the term "rental insurance". There is such a thing as renters insurance. That's something you should have, but it covers YOUR possessions, not his carpet. That is what the deposit and the homeowners insurance HE buys is for. I doubt your insurance agent would sell you homeowners insurance, but who knows... I would find out what you bought, and why it makes the landlord so happy.

excon

They can not require you not to label it in the state of CA. It is your right to do so in the this state. The manager can also NOT evict anyone with a cat just because the manager is allergic. That is considered discrimination especially if he lets other animals on the property security deposit or not. I have cats and dogs due to a medical issue and all my animals are prescription due to therapy. Therefore a potential landlord can not refuse to rent to me just because I have animals or I have an animal they would rather not have in the house. I agree with Excon on several things if you have questions further you can call the fair employment and housing board and ask them anything about the problem(s) you have. They will answer any of your questions and can tell you if anything your manager or landlord is doing is illegal. Also I believe they have a certain amount of time to get you the new lease or they have certain penalties they in cure.
Excon is right renters insurance only covers your stuff in the house not the house or items in the house that are not yours. I have renters insurance myself it's a smart thing to have. My renters insurance covers only my things not my roommates. It also covers anything I happen to have in my car that is not attached to the car. For instance my cds and laptop whether siting in the house or sitting car are covered if either gets broken into and those things get stolen. I hope this helps you.