My girlfriend has 2 days left on her lease and moving this Friday. She has 2 cats that she did not tell the complex about. Today they came in assess the apartment and discovered the cats (and the damage to the carpet the cats have done).
2 questions:
1. Can the apartment management confiscate the animals?
2. Can this discovery cause any change to the ending of the lease (not including charging for additional damages beyond the basic security deposit)?
2007-11-28 06:38:08 · 8 answers · asked by Dave M 2 in Business & Finance ➔ Renting & Real Estate
1. They cannot take the cats away. Animals are property and they can be charged with theft if they remove them.
2. It doesn't change the terms of the lease at all....however, since the cats did damage, it would be treated as any other damaged item...if it exceeds what her deposit, then they can charge her for the blance.
They cannot legally charge her an additional deposit...ONLY for damages.
Did the apartment come to assess damage without telling her? They can't do it without some type of notice b/c it's not maintenance and it's not an emergency. She can't refuse, but she is entitled to a notice.
2007-11-28 07:52:42 · answer #1 · answered by Expert8675309 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
1. No, the apartment cannot confiscate the animals.
2. No, her lease does not change. However, if she was planning on getting her security deposit back she may as well forget it. Don't listen to those saying she is going to get sued. She will only get sued if the damages far exceed her security deposit.
However, she might want to do something about those cats so they do not destroy her next home. If the cats are that destructive, she should consider getting them fixed or removing them.
2007-11-28 08:35:10 · answer #2 · answered by _nicole_ 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
the reason apartments that allow pets have a pet deposit fee on top of the regular security deposit is for such things as damage to the carpet. No they cannot confisgate the cats but they can demand the pet deposit fee from her or they will evict her. and no it won't change the terms of the lease, she's leaving, however, they will charge her for the damaged carpet so she can probably expect them to send a letter telling her that she owes them money.
2007-11-28 07:28:32 · answer #3 · answered by Weimaraner Mom 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Good grief!!! They are not going to take her to small claims court.
No, the cats can not be taken by the apartment staff, nor can animal control take the cats unless they determine them to be in danger. The authorities can not just take your animals for the fun of it.
The apartment manager can and most likely will keep her security deposit, but they will not likely take her to court over the other expenses. She may have the expenses reported to the credit bureaus, however, if she does not pay the apartments for any damage caused by the cats.
2007-11-28 06:49:09 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
They can not take the cats, but she will have to pay for the damages to the carpet. If the damages are more than the security deposit, she will have to pay the difference.
2007-11-28 16:08:39 · answer #5 · answered by Classy Granny 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They cannot confiscate the animals, but they COULD call the local animal welfare association and have them removed from the premises. Doubtful they would do so, however, with only two days remaining.
However, expect your friend to get billed for EVERY cent of damage caused by having these animals in violation of her lease. She has now gotten on the WRONG side of management, and they will take her to small claims court for every penny they can legally get.
2007-11-28 06:44:04 · answer #6 · answered by acermill 7 · 2⤊ 1⤋
no they cant take the cats away, they might beable to charge her the deposit fee, and of course the damage to the rug.
2007-11-28 06:42:39 · answer #7 · answered by ? 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No and no.
She'll just have to pay for the damage done.
2007-11-28 07:03:53 · answer #8 · answered by LifesAMystery 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋