Rottwriler Service Animal in a FL Rental

Rental Property Investor · Lakeland, FL · Member since 2016 · 15 posts · 22 votes

I typically require people to have renter's insurance with pet liability if the animal is an "aggressive" breed. I'm coming across someone who has a rottweiler service animal. In the state of Florida, my understanding is if you have less than 5 properties and it's owned personally, you are not subject to civil rights requirements since it's your personal property. I only have a duplex and my residential house. I actually have no problem with having a rottweiler living on the site. I just have a liability concern and want to require the tenants to have their own policy. I have a policy for my own pitbull and I registered him as a support animal because you never know.

Anyone else in the state of Florida come across this and how have you dealt with it?

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Nathan GesnerBusiness Member

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Real Estate Broker · Cody, WY · Member since 2010 · 28k+ posts · 41k+ votes

If Fair Housing does not apply, you can set limitations or expectations. This would include mandating insurance, restricting breeds, charging extra rent, etc.

You just need to verify you meet the requirements to avoid Fair Housing.

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JD MartinBusiness Member
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Rock Star Extraordinaire · Northeast, TN · Member since 2015 · 10k+ posts · 16k+ votes
6y
I'm not in Florida, but I don't bother with it here in TN. I have good insurance and they don't have breed prohibitions. And I have a good Personal Umbrella Policy.
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Nathan GesnerBusiness Member
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Real Estate Broker · Cody, WY · Member since 2010 · 28k+ posts · 41k+ votes
6y
If Fair Housing does not apply, you can set limitations or expectations. This would include mandating insurance, restricting breeds, charging extra rent, etc.
You just need to verify you meet the requirements to avoid Fair Housing.
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Anthony McDougle
Rental Property Investor · Charlotte, NC · Member since 2020 · 8 posts · 3 votes
6y
Can you really not require renter's insurance to cover a service animal? That seems like a silly restriction. I looked it up and it seems like, at least at the federal level, the only restriction is that you can't directly charge more through pet rent or an extra deposit, which implies you can still require insurance, I think? I'm not a lawyer though.
I've had multiple pitt bulls I've rented to, though, and never had an issue. I owned a German shepherd myself and she was great. The weiner dogs at the apartment complex I used to live at were super aggressive though.
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Anthony Wick
Rental Property Investor · Ankeny, IA · Member since 2017 · 2k+ posts · 3k+ votes
6y
@Heather De La Cruz. I'm interested in this topic and answer, as I plan to move to Florida in 2023. My insurance does not allow this breed. But, I require all tenants to have renters insurance. I do not have them add me to the policy, nor do I require a copy of said policy. But, it is written in the lease that all tenants must acquire renters insurance prior to move in. The first thing I ask myself on service animals, or any animals is; do they meet my minimum requirements to rent the unit? It's amazing how many people do not.
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Elizabeth Shelby
Investor · Kissimmee, FL · Member since 2016 · 42 posts · 24 votes
6y
Personally I have found 1 small dog can be much more of a nuisance than 10 Rottweiler’s! The constant yapping, aggression etc, whether they are service dogs, emotional support animals (yes there is a difference) or pets.
Give me a well trained rottie, pittie, shepherd, dobie any time.
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