About 66% of households in the US own a pet, so you may want to consider allowing them when renting out a property.
At the same time, they do present some downsides, so the choice is ultimately up to you. However, the situation may be different for service or emotional support animals. Understanding the distinction between these two and pets will help you figure things out and make a decision about pets in your rental properties.
Let's take a look at each of these so you can better understand the difference.
Service Animals
A service animal is one that's trained to perform specific tasks to support people. These are most commonly dogs, though ponies may also be service animals in some states.
Some common examples of things service animals might do include:
- Helping blind people get around
- Identifying sounds for deaf people
- Holding open doors for those unable to do so
If you own a rental property, you cannot deny an applicant's service animal. They're not considered pets, so you can't legally charge any additional fees. However, you can seek money from the tenant if their service animal causes property damage, and may be able to remove it through legal proceedings if it proves to be a nuisance.
Emotional Support Animals
Support animals are somewhat different, in that they support their owners, but not by performing a specific task. In most cases, they provide emotional support. Mental health support animals are very common, such as support animals for anxiety.
They can provide support for a range of mental of psychological disorders. Both service animals and support animals fall under the umbrella of "assistance animals". Therefore, the same laws apply when it comes to housing.
Pets
Pets are different, in that they're chosen by owners, but not technically required. Laws around pets in rental properties are different from service or emotional support animals.
Property owners can establish their own pet policies. This means that you don't have to allow them in your rental property if you don't want to.
Pets can cause damage, disturb neighbors, and may even cause physical harm to other people in the area. You may want to avoid the risk of these issues.
On the other hand, you'll have a much larger potential tenant pool if you allow pets in your rental property. You can also charge "pet rent", so you have the potential to make greater profits by allowing pets.
You need to consider both the pros and cons of allowing pets to make your decision. It can be worth speaking to a professional property manager as they can offer an expert opinion to help you decide.
Allowing Animals in Your Investment Property
As a rental property owner, you can't deny service or emotional support animals in your property. You can, however, deny pets if you would rather not have them.
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Take a look at our property management page to find out more about how we can help you with your investment properties.
