State Specific Question About: OREGON (OR)

I was in the house to determine what was wrong with the furnace. (Turns out it was defective draft inducer.) While I was there, I spotted the extra cat. I didn't say anything at the moment. This was 1 week ago. I wanted to get the furnace working before I addressed it.

So the question is, what should I do about it? The options seem to be...

1. Evict them with 30 day notice for cause, with a remedy of removal of cat.

2. Evict them with 30 day notice for cause, with a remedy of Pay $250 extra pet fee.

3. Pretend that I didn't see it and do nothing.

4. Talk to them and ask if the cat is on a vacation ect and is leaving soon.

I recognize that if I do this then I lose the chance to get rid of the seond cat at a later date, effectly allowing it by inaction.

The problem I see with #2 is that if I take the fee, and later there is cat damage, I think I will have trouble getting money out of the deposit for that repair, because, "they paid a pet fee to cover those damages."

The problem w/ #1 is that they might move out... nobody wants a vacancy....

What would you do?

Scott

Scott,

Sounds like you posted on this matter previously and I don't know the details, but....

Many years ago we got our first cat who had some behaviour problems. Can't remember specifically because this was 20 years ago. My wife said that if we got a second cat the first cat would behave better.

Agree with Donald. I have two cats.. they play together and keep each other occupied. Unoccupied animals cause damage.

Since this doesn't seem to be a "pet free" rental (you are calling it the "extra" cat) I would just ignore it.

I think I would speak to them about it, or they may keep getting more and more cats. I started out with 1 house cat and now have 8, but it is in my own home, of course. They were all spayed/neutered young, before having or fathering any kittens. Things have a way of snowballing, as most of the ones I have were drop offs and no one else would take them. Shelters are full here.

Just let them know and maybe write up some sort of agreement, that 2 cats are the limit (or whatever amount you are limiting them to). Have them sign something stating that they will be responsible for any and all cat damage to the property, over and above the pet deposit that you have, if there are any damages.

Hopefully this will protect you a little bit. Are you sure there are not more cats hiding? If the cat the tenant originally had, was not spayed or neutered and got out or ???, the second cat that you saw maybe from a litter. They can grow quickly and have kittens at only 6 months old or so, if not altered.

Otherwise 2 or 4 or ?? cats don't do much more damage, if any, than 1 cat.

The lease states 1 cat by name (if it dies, they can't get another.)

I am a little suprised I didn't get more answers like Tims. I figured that was the method and was just working up the courage. All these 2 cat folks above have me thinking more. That's why I posted.

Eviction is what you do through the court.

You are warning of a lease violation that is cause for termination of contract.

1. Evict them with 30 day notice for cause, with a remedy of removal of cat.

Possibly.

2. Evict them with 30 day notice for cause, with a remedy of Pay $250 extra pet fee.

Possibly.

3. Pretend that I didn't see it and do nothing.

Landlord is in charge. This one is no fun.

4. Talk to them and ask if the cat is on a vacation ect and is leaving soon.

Go bact to 1 and 2.

The problem I see with #2 is that if I take the fee, and later there is cat damage, I think I will have trouble getting money out of the deposit for that repair, because, "they paid a pet fee to cover those damages."

Not to cover, to mitigate. Additional damage is additional charge. Whether you get the money is another issue.

The problem w/ #1 is that they might move out... nobody wants a vacancy....

Nobody wants bad tenants.

And yes, their deposit goes back to them minus any damage.

I was surprised too.

Seems like a spare is good in case one goes flat.

This is off point..but a cat story just the same. It is 2:30 am. I am awake because the cat was meowing. I got up, poured some orange juice, the cat was still meowing. Walked through the house and found the feline. Low and behold the kitchen door to the house is wide open.

Hmm, "Maybe a sandwich?" I thought. I let the cat out and closed and locked that door.

Why was the door open? Who cares.

Here is why I got rid of my tenant for moving in the cat.

1. she didn't ask, just moved it in even though it is a no pet policy. I went over it when signing the lease.

2. on her app., it said she had no pets.

3. I have had current renters ask if they could get a cat. Good renters. I said no. This is in a 8 unit building. everybody knows what everybody is doing. So what example does this sit? If you move something in without premission, it is OK. But if you ask, you will be turn down? OR "it is ok for her, but not you."

4. Even though I went over the lease with her and they lied about the cat, what else are they going to do? The LL-Tenant trust is gone in my book.

5. What is next? Another cat? Dog? Snake? The tenant thinks they own the place and run the show, but YOU run the place.

She moved. yeah, she paid her rent on time. No major damage done to the unit. But cat hair every where. Gave the Dyson Animal eater a work out. Still called the carpet cleaning company to clean it too.

OK, Scott, first let me tell you I have a lot of respect for anyone who keeps an open mind about pets, esp cats!

I am a LL that accepts pets. I believe it is the owners that determine if the pet is an asset or a handicap. If the owner is a responsible owner, they will have well trained pets. To this kind of owner a pet is a family member--as opposed to a live children's toy or a live security system. Pet owners are usually tong term tenants, less turnover. I personally have 3 cats and they DO keep each other company and have less behavior problems.

Now you already have allowed 1 cat and have taken a pet fee for that, right? So except for the sneakiness, there is not that much difference with 2, but you MUST address the issue.

I served them a 30 day notice of eviction w/ the following choice of rememdy:

1. git rid of the cit

2. Pay $100 non-refundable pet fee

3. Increase security deposit by $300.

I also charged them a delivery of notice fee of $25 for me having to deal with this.

Scott

spayed/nuteured yes, declawed, no.