If you own a pet and live in an apartment, chances are, you’ve paid a pet deposit. If you’re currently living in a no pets building and are moving into a building that takes pets or if you’re thinking about getting a pet, you’ll need to know the ins and outs of how a pet deposit works. In almost all cases, a pet deposit is a half month’s rent. It is a deposit, which means that assuming your pet hasn’t ruined the place, you will get the entire deposit back when you move out of your place. The problem with many pet deposits is the controversy behind what constitutes ruining the place and what doesn’t. Even if you have the most well behaved cat in the world, sometimes Fluffy has an accident and pees on the carpet. You may not see it, but the building manger may decide to replace the carpet after you leave, and once they tear it up, the stains become visible. This is often an excuse used by landlords to keep your pet deposit. If you feel that your pet deposit is being kept undeservedly, you can fight back. There are often arbitrators that you can file suit with as a substitute for going to court. Small claims court also works if your state doesn’t use an arbitrator system.