questions & answers

Question: I put down a $300 deposit for my little dog . And when my lease ended I moved out I asked for my security deposit and I was told the pet deposit was nonrefundable I cannot get it back And he took $300 out of my security deposit because I had let a dumped kitten in front of my house stay in my yard for several weeks and when I moved I took iit with me. I didn’t even waant a kitten I just didn’t want to leave it there for him to do something to it. Is .it lawful for him to do that?

Answer: The answer to this sort of question usually depends on what was specified in the rental agreement between the landlord and the tenant. The Arizona Residential Landlord and Tenant Act states that “the purpose of all nonrefundable fees or deposits shall be stated in writing by the landlord” and that “any fee or deposit not designated as nonrefundable is refundable” (A.R.S. 33-1321(B)).