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Pet Policies for a Rental: Here’s What You Need To Know
Looking for an apartment can get a bit complicated when you have a pet. Many rental units don’t allow pets at all, or if they do, there are pet policies in place that limit the breed, species, or size of pet that you can live with. Whether your animal companion is furry, feather, or scaly, it’s important to read through any pet policy very carefully when you’re renting, and to make sure that you’re not putting yourself at risk of losing your security deposit—or your place to live.
Limited as it may seem, most renters won’t have too much difficulty finding a rental that will also allow their pet. As for those pet policies, we’ve outlined how to make heads or tails of them, plus some common sense advice for being a good renter when you’ve got a two- or four-legged roommate on the lease.
What Are Pet Policies?
Pet policies are provisions within a lease that dictate the rules around pets for tenants. These policies protect both landlord and tenant by clearly stating expectations around pet ownership within the unit—for example, what kind of pet is or isn’t allowed and whether or not there is an additional deposit or monthly fee.
Pet or not, it’s crucial that you read your lease carefully. A lease is a legally binding contract, and once you sign it, you must uphold the guidelines within it. If you don’t have a pet yet but are considering adopting one in the future, you should still be reading through the pet policy to learn whether pets are allowed and what your landlord will expect from you. The more clear you are on the policy of your rental, the less chance you’ll have of running into trouble later on.
If your lease doesn’t have a designated pet policy and you either have a pet or intend to adopt a pet, ask your landlord before signing. A lack of pet policy isn’t the same as getting a direct go-ahead. And if your landlord does say that pets are okay, it’s a good idea to amend the lease with that statement to cover your bases.
What’s Covered in a Pet Policy
Pet policies are specific to the rental that you’re looking at, which means that they can (and often do) look quite different from building to building. That being said, the language used tends to be pretty standard. Here are some of the common guidelines you’ll find in pet policies.
Types of pets allowed. Some pet policies may allow for cats but not dogs, or only allow for small animals like bunnies or hamsters. Some may allow for contained animals like fish but nothing else. Read carefully to see if there are restrictions on what type of animal you can have in your rental, and whether these restriction are in line with the type of pet you have or want to adopt.
Number of pets allowed. Even lax pet policies won’t necessarily allow you to have as many pets as you want. You may be limited to having just one or two pets, or you may be required to get approval before adopting another pet.
Breed restrictions. Unfortunate as it is, some rentals do limit the types of breeds allowed in their units. Breed restrictions generally ban so-called “dangerous” or “bully” breeds from living on properties, including American Staffordshire Terriers (Pit Bulls), Rottweilers, Huskies, Mastiffs, and Doberman Pinschers. These restrictions may be offshoots of breed-specific legislation within a city or town, or may be due to insurance restrictions or landlord preferences. And while animal rights groups are actively campaigning against them, they’re still a reality in many rentals across the U.S.
Want to appeal a breed restriction? It’s worth a try. If your pup isn’t allowed under a blanket “dangerous breed restriction,” talk to your landlord and see if there’s any flexibility. A pet interview may help allay any fears they have about a specific breed, and you may be able to compromise by paying a higher security deposit or offering to pay an added fee every month. While not all landlords will budge on their breed restrictions, clearly showing that your dog isn’t to be feared and that you’re a responsible pet parent can go a long way.
Pet weight requirements. Many pet policies include weight maximums for pets—for example, no pets over 30 pounds or no pets over 100 pounds. Sometimes a weight requirement is a backhanded way of ruling out certain breeds without putting in a direct breed restriction. Other times it’s simply a landlord preference due to the size of the unit or what kinds of pets they’re comfortable with (for example: a low weight requirement may rule out many breeds of dogs but allow for all kinds of cats, birds, and other animals).
No-pet policies. Sometimes the stated pet policy is simply that no pets are allowed under any circumstances. Take these seriously, and never try to sneak a pet in or hide an animal from your landlord. Both scenarios are a breach of contract and could lead to you losing your rental or having to re-home your pet.
Pet deposit or monthly rent increase. Pet policies may also contain additional fees associated with having a pet in your rental, such as an upfront, non-refundable fee, a provisionally refundable deposit, or an increase in your monthly rent. In some states, it is illegal to charge these fees, so check your local laws just in case. And in cases where there is a legally-viable refundable pet deposit, make sure that you know exactly what’s expected of you if you’re to get your deposit back at the end of your lease term. Is it just damage to the unit that will require a sacrifice of your pet deposit? What about noise complaints? Be clear about the expectations so that you’re more likely to get your pet deposit back when you move out.
What About Service Animals?
Under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), landlords may not prohibit a service animal from living in a rental, even if there is a no-pet policy. Further, they may not charge a pet deposit (refundable or non-refundable) or a monthly rent increase for a service animal, or restrict the breed, species, or size of the animal.
The important distinction here is that a service animal is not a pet. Service animals are trained for distinct jobs, and are required for the management of a tenant’s disability. Also important to note is that the ADA’s provisions do not apply to emotional support animals, since they do not qualify as service animals. It is possible to work around a no-pet policy with an emotional support animal, but there are no guarantees.
If you looking to rent with a service animal, be sure to have documentation on hand that proves their status. You are not required to disclose to a potential landlord anything about your disability, but you will need to prove that your animal companion is a registered service animal. If you have an emotional support animal, have a doctor’s note stating your need that you can provide if warranted.
Being a Good Renter With a Pet
Just because a pet is allowed in a rental doesn’t mean you have free reign to do whatever you want. Be a good tenant and neighbor (and increase your chances of getting your security deposit back) by abiding by the following guidelines.
Give your pet plenty of exercise and attention
Keep your dog leashed when outside
Clean up after your pet
Among U.S households, 57% include at least one pet—which means that there are millions of renters with pets in the country. Knowing what to expect from pet policies and doing your best to be a good pet parent when you’re renting are key, and will go a long way toward ensuring that your experience renting with a pet is a good one.