California

yuiyoshida

(41,832 posts) Mon Oct 20, 2014, 10:05 AM Oct 2014

Berkeley considers outlawing pet restrictions on rentals

Apartment hunters having an impossible time finding pet-friendly dwellings may want to set their sights on Berkeley, which is considering a first-of-its-kind law that would forbid landlords from imposing pet restrictions on tenants.

City Councilman Jesse Arreguin wants landlords to accept everything from hamsters to Saint Bernards — so long as the pet can be reasonably accommodated, is well behaved and the tenant takes responsibility for property damage.

State laws exist to grant exemptions from pet bans to tenants with physical or mental disabilities who rely on service animals or emotional-support animals, but Arreguin’s proposal would offer protection to all tenants and type of pets.

Part of the problem, Arreguin said, is that landlords have complained about a “floodgate” of tenants claiming mental illnesses and the need for emotional-support pets. Such exemptions from pet bans confuse other tenants, Arreguin said. His proposal would provide “clarity and convenience” for both landlords and tenants, who would be required to disclose whether they have a pet.

http://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/Berkeley-considers-outlawing-pet-restrictions-on-5833653.php

6 replies

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Berkeley considers outlawing pet restrictions on rentals (Original Post) yuiyoshida Oct 2014 OP

And, like the sudden flood of people who NEED support dogs - this proviso - djean111 Oct 2014 #1

California law states Sedona Oct 2014 #2

Figures. I would also like to state that I love dogs, and I have a dog. djean111 Oct 2014 #3

That's the SECURITY deposit. They tack on an extra pet deposit, that's how they have always kestrel91316 Oct 2014 #4

The law says 200% total of monthly rent Sedona Oct 2014 #5

Many property owners can be subject to large bills when their tenants are irresponsible pet owners. pennylane100 Oct 2014 #6

djean111

(14,255 posts)

1. And, like the sudden flood of people who NEED support dogs - this proviso -

Reply to yuiyoshida (Original post)

Mon Oct 20, 2014, 10:28 AM

Oct 2014

"so long as the pet can be reasonably accommodated, is well behaved and the tenant takes responsibility for property damage"
will be subverted. Requiring much larger security deposits may be called discriminatory, and yeah, I once lived in an apartment building with a No Dog policy, and the barking and smells and poop outside the building were so annoying/sickening that I moved out.
I reported the woman downstairs for her dog that yapped all day and all night, and nothing happened.
When she moved out, she glued the collection of carpet pieces that her dog ripped out down on to the floor, and it took the landlord quite a while to scrape everything up so the smelly carpet could be replaced.
The apartment upstairs - Saint Bernard that walked around all night.
Management said it was too much trouble getting tenants out after the lease was signed.
I never lived in an apartment again.

Sedona

(3,769 posts)

2. California law states

Reply to djean111 (Reply #1)

Mon Oct 20, 2014, 10:55 AM

Oct 2014

only twice the monthly rent can be collected as a deposit.

djean111

(14,255 posts)

3. Figures. I would also like to state that I love dogs, and I have a dog.

Reply to Sedona (Reply #2)

Mon Oct 20, 2014, 11:07 AM

Oct 2014

Half Rottie, big sweet guy. I have a big yard so he can run around when he wants.

kestrel91316

(51,666 posts)

4. That's the SECURITY deposit. They tack on an extra pet deposit, that's how they have always

Reply to Sedona (Reply #2)

Mon Oct 20, 2014, 01:29 PM

Oct 2014

gotten away with it: labeling.

Sedona

(3,769 posts)

5. The law says 200% total of monthly rent

Reply to kestrel91316 (Reply #4)

Mon Oct 20, 2014, 11:27 PM

Oct 2014

doesn't matter how its labeled. Landlords can only charge more deposits (3 x's rent) on furnished places.

pennylane100

(3,425 posts)

6. Many property owners can be subject to large bills when their tenants are irresponsible pet owners.

Reply to yuiyoshida (Original post)

Tue Oct 28, 2014, 12:01 PM

Oct 2014

If a untrained cat uses the carpet as a litter box, sometimes the only solution is to buy new carpets. Dogs that like to dig holes can play havoc with the back yard. We had one family whose dog would jump over the raised deck into the neighbors yard. They threatened to sue us. Luckily the pet deposit paid for an extra three feet of lattice fencing around the property. This grounded the poor little pooch.

We own four properties and have always been lucky in that our tenants have been very good, (except for the high flying dog) However, we did have one lady who accused our gardeners of stealing her pot. She said she had a license. I did not believe her story because these gardeners have been with us for six years and are hardworking and honest. However she kept a spotless house and paid her rent on time always but I did bump her rent a little because she slandered my gardeners.

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