(Photo: Submitted)
A Saint John woman hopes talking about her story informs others what fees are illegal for landlords to charge.
Misty Schofield said she was charged a $25 monthly pet fee by 3D Property Management when she was renting from them between October 2018 and October 2019.
“For the last month that I lived at the unit I lived at, I didn’t pay the pet fee. When I went to apply to have my damage deposit returned to me, 3D Property put a claim against that $25 pet fee that they’re not allowed to charge,” she said.
Schofield said under prohibited payments in the Residential Tenancies Act, landlords can only charge for rent, a security deposit equal to one months’ rent, and a reasonable amount for services such as snow removal.
Matt Doherty, president and CEO of 3D Property Management, said in an email that Schofield agreed to and paid pet rent for a year, but when the tenancy ended, she went to the Rentalsman who contended that pet rent is a prohibited payment.
“I disagree and believe it is permitted however we weren’t able to challenge that in court since the building owner decided to just pay her the money back. This is a similar payment to charging a tenant for parking,” wrote Doherty.
“No decision was made on the pet rent issue; it was a negotiated settlement between the owner and the Rentalsman.”
Schofield said she was reimbursed $300 from the pet fees.
“Some people have said pet fees are for damages the pet may cause, but that’s the purpose of the security deposit,” she said.
Schofield said she heard from other people who want to contest pet fees, as well as a landlord who didn’t know pet fees are illegal.
“What I hope happens is that a lot of people put in a claim with the Rentalsman and I hope that with the story getting out there … I hope that somebody steps up and does something about it.”
