Alex Smith here from gkhouses, Chattanooga, with another edition of Questions Owners Ask. Today’s question is, “How much is your pet fee in Chattanooga, and what does it cover?”
Our pet fee is $300 per pet. The tenant pays this non-refundable fee if they sign a lease and move in with a pet.
The first $250 of the pet fee goes straight to the owner’s pocket.
We keep the other $50 because of the administrative costs associated with vetting the pet to make sure it is not a dangerous breed.
The pet fee covers any potential damage to the home that’s above normal wear and tear as the result of having a pet in the house.
If a tenant has a really good pet and if they take care of the house on top of that, there may be very little damage. Sometimes there’s more than what you would expect.
Unfortunately, that’s the risk you run if you allow a pet in the house.
We also enforce breed restrictions because our insurance will not allow us to rent a house with certain dogs. We do not allow the stereotypical dangerous breeds, such as German shepherds, pit bulls, Staffordshire terriers, etc.
You will also want to look at your house’s insurance policy for any similar stipulations.
If you have any other questions, feel free to reach out! We would love to speak with you!