Extra fees for pets voided if they are a service pet?

[Bryan Avila]

Hello, I’m fairly new to bigger pockets and real estate. One of my rental property I have an option of being pet friendly if they are willing to pay extra a month and a non refundable pet deposit. I recently had a potential tenant that is a perfect fit extra has two service dogs, would that by law not allow me to charge extra or the deposit?

[Nathan Gesner]

Quote from @Bryan Avila:

Hello, I’m fairly new to bigger pockets and real estate. One of my rental property I have an option of being pet friendly if they are willing to pay extra a month and a non refundable pet deposit. I recently had a potential tenant that is a perfect fit extra has two service dogs, would that by law not allow me to charge extra or the deposit?

You cannot charge rent or deposits for service animals or emotional support animals.

However, a large percentage of these are scams. Learn how to screen them before accepting them as legitimate.

NOTE: there is no "registration" for a service animal or emotional support animal. All of those websites are fake. ID tags are fake. Badges and vests and certificates are fake. The only legitimate documentation is a letter from a medical provider. You are allowed to verify the documentation. You are allowed to confirm the documentation is "recent" which generally means within the last year. The medical provider should be "familiar" with the patient, meaning they have actually treated them and not just spoken to them on the phone.

Here's the latest HUD guide. Print it, study it, highlight it. It's a pretty good tool for walking you through how to screen these applications: https://www.hud.gov/sites/dfil...