Dog breeds and Liability

[Matt Kitchen]

Hello,

I'm going to be a first time MF buyer and plan on house hacking.  I have a dog myself and, therefore, will have to allow pets in other units as well.  What liability falls on me, the landlord, if there are animals living in my units?  Does the law protect landlords from problems like bites if the size or breed varies?  i.e if someone gets bit from a dog living in my building, am I more liable if that dog is a 50lb pitbull than if it is a 15lb yorkie?

[Jay Hinrichs]

check with your insurance agent.. also federal law dictates that when your owner occupying your 1 to 4 unit you don't have to follow the normal fair housing laws.. you can pick and choose who you want to live in the units .. 

now some cities or states may have overriding rules regarding this.. but federal law is clear.. on owner occ 1 to 4.. your exempt from fair housing.

so you can have a dog and you could restrict dogs for others.

there is a well known list of aggressive breeds that insurance companies wont insure.. this is easy information to get.