A landlord has nonchalantly admitted to charging his tenants an illegal pet deposit, in a move that has outraged tenants across Australia.
The landlord’s astonishing admission was shared in an online group for landlords in Victoria last week.
In a post asking for advice about tenants with pets, the landlord wrote: “I would rather have pets than children… I would request a pet voucher.”
“I have one, it’s $1,000 for pet damage.”
A Victorian landlord casually admitted she charges her tenants a “pet bonus” despite knowing they are “not legal.”
The owner said she charges her tenants the ‘pet bonus’ ‘for damage caused by the pet’ (pictured, comments from the owner)
When a commenter told the owner that ‘pet bonuses’ are illegal, she responded: ‘I know they’re not legal, but I always ask for them.
‘Personally I have many pets and I don’t reject animals. Again, in my experience, children have done more harm than animals.
“Most tenants are happy to do this as it means they can have animals.”
The owner’s blunt response left Australians shocked, as “pet bonuses” are banned in most states and territories.
Consumer Affairs Victoria states: “Rental providers and landlords cannot request an additional deposit as a pet deposit.”
Pets are defined as “any animal except a service dog” in Victoria and all tenants must ask their landlord for permission to have a pet.
Of dozens of comments under a photo shared from the owner’s comments, almost everyone thought the bond with their pet was fair.
‘It’s something like emotional blackmail. That’s good,’ said one.
‘You already have a pet bond, it’s called a bond. The only way to justify something like this is if the mascot was an elephant or a colony of termites,” wrote another.
“I personally wouldn’t describe myself as ‘happy’ to be exploited by an illegal bond which I can’t discuss because the alternative is that it’s almost impossible to get a rental with pets,” said another.
“Most tenants are happy to pay.” “I’m sure none of them are happy, but they need a place to live without having to give up their pet,” wrote another.
The owner’s $1,000 pet bond was also much higher than is legal in states where additional insurance is allowed.
In Western Australia, owners can only charge up to $260 for a pet deposit.
Pet vouchers are illegal in most Australian states and territories, but are legal in Western Australia, where owners can charge a maximum of $260.
“If a tenant is allowed to have pets capable of carrying parasites that can affect humans, a pet deposit may be charged,” the WA Department of Industrial Regulation states.
‘The pet deposit may only be applied to the cost of any fumigation of the premises that may be necessary at the end of the tenancy.
‘A maximum amount of $260 may be charged for a pet deposit, regardless of the number of pets permitted. Tenants should not be charged a deposit for having an assistance dog.
However, commenters weren’t sure anything would deter the cheeky owner, as she didn’t seem to care whether her bail was “legal” or not.
‘I’m a little surprised that you don’t insist on childhood ties. Since “that would be illegal” he doesn’t seem to care,” one of them wrote.