Pet Addendum To A Rental Agreement: Fill & Download for Free

The addendum or lease rider allowing two cats should be prefaced with the following words:“Notwithstanding anything contained in the lease to the contrary, the tenant may harbor up to two (2) cats in the leased premises.”

Which renter's insurance policies cover pet damage liability in California?I would agree with Ingrid Halvorsen’s post at least in part. Generally, pet damage to a home or apartment is not intended to be covered under a Renters Insurance Policy.I’m more interested in coverage for possible damage to a rental home, not personal injury. Most of the advice I can find is about medical payments for dog bites and large dogs or “banned” breeds, but I’m thinking about getting a cat, so that’s not relevant.Though the details of the question are a bit veiled, it seems you are concerned about damage a cat might cause to the apartment/home over time.There are a number of exclusions under the typical Renters Policy that can come into play regarding this type of pet damage to an apartment/home that you might rent.In addition, some companies will put a specific “animal/pet exclusion” on renters insurance policy because of this exposure and others related to liability hazards.For those reasons, it is common for landlords to include a “Pet Addendum” to the lease for the property. An example of that type of lease addendum is below:AnimalHumaneSociety .org - Sample Pet AgreementThose types of addendums also lead to the tenant paying a higher monthly rent and may also require a larger security deposit, because experience has shown that the responsibility falls on the tenant directly for this type of damage to the property.The exclusion language in an HO-4 Rental Insurance contract that can be pertinent to this type of loss includes:Property Damage - to property rented to, occupied or used by or in the care of the insured. (see above)Property Damage - which is “expected or intended” by an insuredContractual Liability - which relates to the use of the insured location (this exclusion would apply to a “Pet Addendum or Agreement” the tenant might enter into as mentioned above).State and individual company’s insurance policies can vary. It is important that you check with your specific agent and company.It can be reasonably suggested however that Renters Insurance does not intend to cover a continuous and repeated type of pet loss like you are seeking.Thanks for the A2A. Best regards.

The answer is location specific. This means that in order to get more than a general answer, you would need to provide a location (City/State/Country) for the property.If your property is located in Natchitoches, Natchitoches Parish, Louisiana, you have the ability to charge for anything and everything. It’s considered the landlord’s property, and the landlord may charge whatever that s/he wants if the tenant accepts the agreement and pays the amount.Do you have more than one car parked on the property? Yes, the landlord can request an additional payment. Do you have 10 pans that you want to store in the cupboard? The landlord can draw up a rental agreement that charges you extra for each pan above 5.In my location, the lease will determine what the agreement will be between the landlord and tenant. If you, as a landlord, wish to charge an additional amount for occupancy on the property by a pet, and the tenant agrees to it and signs the agreement, then it is possible.My policy has changed over the years as I have had more experience with tenants and their wants and needs. I presently write the lease so that no pets are allowed on the property without a signed Pet Agreement Addendum to the lease. Tenants who have a pet without said agreement can be charged $300. The addendum would outline the additional charges for maintaining a pet on the property, what pet it is, the pet’s veterinarian, and the pet policies.The amount to which we agree becomes an additional lease amount due and the amount is divided into equal monthly payments. I found this preferable due to the fact that charging that amount as a single payment amount (like a security deposit) is very difficult for individuals with all the other deposits/payments that must be paid at the start a new tenancy (i.e., utility deposit(s), phone/internet/tv service deposits, etc…).And let me rant on some of the other landlords out there. It is NOT a pet deposit if you have NO intention of returning it. A deposit is an amount that is held in trust with the intention of returning that amount to it’s owner providing they fulfill the requirements necessary for its return. There is no such thing as a non-refundable deposit! Quit calling your pet fee a pet deposit.One other item of which to be aware in the United States when it comes to pets staying in a rental unit. There is a class of animal called a Service Animal or Therapy Animal. These classes of animals require special consideration and you should discuss how your policies/prices will be affected by such a situation with your lawyer.