Muscatine

Is there any other people out there looking to move and tired of seeing places advertised for rent but No Pets Allowed. Seems the legal system has come along way in creating and enforcing animal rights. I wander if discrimination is or could become included. How many rental property owners have pets living with them? Doesn't it mean something to a family with kids to have a pet or two at home? If their excuse has to do with them not wanting pets to do damage and they won' t allow pets, then rent your properties withOUT required deposits. Otherwise, allow pets since the deposit you require (and rarely return even when the place is clean when moved out of) could cover what ever damage a pet have done. Quit being so comunist, Iowa practices that enough, citizens don't need to also.

I know this doesn't apply to me anymore since I purchased my first home a few months back, however when I was renting, I asked if we could get a pet since it didn't state any where in my contract that I couldn't. I even offered to pay an additional deposit for the pet. They allowed me to get my cat, without paying the extra deposit. We lived there for 4 years, when we moved out I made sure that place was clean and everything, it was cleaner when I moved out than it was when I moved in. I still didn't get my deposit back. So I guess it doesn't really matter what you do, have a pet or not they don't pay the deposit back.

Having been on both the tenant and landlord side of this argument, I have to side with the property owner.  As a responsible pet owner, you would not allow your pet to destroy their property, but sadly, you are in the minority.  I have seen "small pets" chew cabinets, soil the carpet so much it's beyond repair, and chew or scratch window frames.  We happened to have a small dog, who did no damage, and we were entitled to a full refund of our deposit.  We did pay an additional deposit for the dog, but it too was refunded.

As pet owners, most of us wouldn't let that happen, but you'd be surprised at how negligent some pet owners can be with rental property.  As much as I agree with a pet or two being a great idea,  I have to side with the property owner on this one.  You have no way of determining who is a responsible pet owner and who isn't.  It's not about discrimination at all. 

I don't mean to start an argument with you, but it's not communism!   It's a private individual who rents their property (paid for with their hard-earned money), and doesn't want it destroyed by pets.  Their property, their choice.  You don't have to rent from them. 

Just my opinion. 

lilsmom...Isn't a deposit meant to cover such things as pet damage. And another thing, too many landlords fail to return deposits regardless of the condition some one leaves the property in anyway. Some regulations should be set by law for landlords regarding this and pets. Guess maybe i'll research doing that.