Can we charge the tenants a pet deposit?

Question

We just purchased a house and the tenants are on a year lease when we purchased it. The previous owners did not charge the tenants a pet deposit fee. Would we be able to go in there and charge them a pet deposit fee or would we have to wait for the lease to expire? We are in Texas.

Basically I don't want to change the lease. I just want to add to the lease.

Answer 1

You bought the lease when you bought the house. You cannot change the terms. You can redo the lease if the tenants are willing, but good luck on that if you are going to ask them for more money.

Answer 2

Adding to the lease is changing the lease. You bought the property subject to the lease, what was agreed to by the previous owner is good until the renewal date. Note that the tenant is still responsible for any damage caused by their pet unless it could be classified as "wear and tear' and could be expected by having a pet, but I can't think of how that could really happen.

Answer 3

You are stuck until the lease expires. If you want to charge a deposit at that time, you can do so, although some states limit the total amount of deposit that can be charged.

Answer 4

You cannot change their lease if you assumed it as part of the purchase. Once it expires, you can set any terms you want.

Answer 5

have to wait until the lease expires, when you closed on the property the old landlord transferred the security deposit to you i hope because now you are legally responsible not the old landlord

Answer 6

I don't think so. It would have to be stipulated in the lease, which I am assuming it is not. Rewrite your contract and if they renew, then you can charge.