Hey landlords, do you require pet deposits for service animals?

Question

I have my first tenant. Her pet is a service animal. How do you handle pet deposits for service animals?

Filipe Pereira · Answer

No extra pet fees, deposits or rent for service animals @Calvin Jordan, and be careful what questions you ask. You may ask the following:

(1) is the dog a service animal required because of a disability?

(2) what work or task has the dog been trained to perform?

Become more familiar with it on the ada's website here. It's federal policy, so it covers all states: https://www.ada.gov/regs2010/s...

Check with your insurance company about the animal as well, you don't want any surprises on that front later on if something were to happen.

Greg Scott · Answer

A service animal is not a pet. Do not charge anything for it. (You can still charge for damages later if the animal has destroyed things, just like if a human destroyed things.)

However, verify it is a true service animal and not an emotional support animal certified by a $5 fee on a web site.

Mike S. · Answer

Use petscreening.com to validate a legal service animal or ESA.

Michael Noto · Answer

In Connecticut you can't charge a pet deposit for a service animal because it isn't a pet. Big no no.

Waleep Alvi · Answer

@Calvin Jordan You cant charge any additional deposits or pent rents and can ask a limited number of questions to ensure it is a legit esa .I took a look online and this seems to be an easily laid out overview of what is and isnt allowed.https://www.rentprep.com/property-management/landlord-guide-assistance-animals/

James Wise · Answer

Nope. Can't treat a service animal as a pet.

Nathan Gesner · Answer

I highly recommend you download the HUD guidance on service animals. This updated guide came out this year and is better than before, but it still encourages fraudulent claims and we will continue to see more and more service animal requests. Therefore, it's important you understand them and how to handle them.

HUD Assistance Animal Guide

Amelia G · Answer

You can run afoul of fair housing laws in many states if you try to charge extra for any type of service animal.

Russell Brazil · Answer

No extra fees for a service animal. Treat a service animal like it was a wheelchair.

Curt Smith · Answer

@Mike S. Like Mike said use petscreening.com to scare away fake esa animals. $10 says its a pit bull too!

LiSure for genuine esa etc animals.

We love pets, take pets even prefer tenants with pets even big dogs. But it gauls me re weasel tenants try to get put bulls in AND not even pay a pet fee!

Eradicate from your thought process that there is normal wear and tear, all damage comes off the security posit. Contact me for my price list that's attached to my list for all damage affix up charges.

The way to handle fake esa animals charges is have a security posit policy in your ad that says security posit is dependent on your credit score. Then get at least one and a 1/2 times rent security posit the handle these fake or real even esa animals .

I've actually never had to take an esa animal because my credit score and screening requirements is high enough where weasel tenants usually are financially weak as well and they fall out during the credit and financial screening.

A big help is must have a bank account balance with 3 times rent today. Before I bother with him they send me a screenshot of their bank balance showing their name and balance. After all they need to times rent to move in and if you have one and a 1/2 times security posit still need close to 3 times rent to move in so it makes sense that they have to have the cash! So screen for it!

Best to you.

Hey landlords, do you require pet deposits for service animals?

Hey landlords, do you require pet deposits for service animals?

Most Popular Reply

11 Replies