Should You Sneak a Pet Into Your Rental Home?
Whether you’re seeking rental homes in Decatur or any other city, the rules are always the same - if you have pets, you’ll have to find housing that permits them and pay any necessary pet deposit or pet fees up front. Because of hefty deposit costs or pet restrictions, many people decide not to disclose their pets to their landlord and sneak them in after the rental agreement has been signed and the keys handed over. Should you sneak a pet into your rental home? Only if you’re ready to suffer the potential consequences, which might include eviction.
Why Landlords May Not Allow Pets
Your cat may seem perfect. She lives indoors, barely sheds and you can forget about scratching! How could your landlord not adore her? Landlords often restrict pets simply because they do not know your animals’ tendencies, and they don’t want to be responsible for costly repairs later. Should your pet stain the carpet, chew the door frames or tear up the lawn, your landlord will suffer an out-of-pocket expense later. This explains why many house rentals in Georgia either restrict animals or request a pet deposit or a pet fee to cover any accidental repairs.
Psst…They’ll Never Find Out
It’s true you can likely hide an indoor pet from your landlord but that’s not the honest thing to do. There are circumstances in which they might have to enter your home and what a surprise it would be if they see Tippi wagging her tail. From home improvements to repairs, they might have a reason to show up knocking and your dog might even begin to bark. Basically, the truth will always come out. From a nosy neighbor who thinks they are pet patroller to your public social media posts that show Mittens lying in your lap, sooner or later the cat will be out of the bag.
What Happens When They Discover Your Pet?
If you decided to sneak a pet into your home without your landlord’s permission, you’re going to have some explaining to do once they find out. They might make a big deal about it and would have every right to possibly evict you or at least your pet. Or they might be understanding and request the pet deposit fee you should have paid. Because pet deposits can cost several hundred dollars, you might not be prepared to foot the bill after Fido has been found.
Despite your sneaky tactics, if you’re a good tenant and your pet doesn’t cause much concern, she might work with you on making smaller deposit payments with every rent check, rather than request the full amount at the time of discovery. This is the best case scenario. The worst case involves you and Tippi back on the streets. Is it really worth the risk?
When you begin your search for Stone Mountain rental houses, contact our office and allow us to assist you in arranging the perfect place to call home. Whether it’s just you or your whole family, there’s a place for everyone. We will be happy to help you find it.
