There's no denying that people love their pets, and according to MarketWatch Guides, about 66% of US households have one.
If you're a rental property investor, it can be difficult to decide if you should allow pets in your properties. There are various pros and cons to doing so. Things can get even more complicated when you start thinking about service and support animals, especially if you don't really know what these are.
In this Landlord guide on animals, we'll look at the differences between service animals, support animals, and pets so you can get a better idea of how you should handle things. Let's get started.
What Are Service Animals?
Service animals are specially trained to carry out specific tasks that support their owners. Most service animals are dogs, but this can also include some other animals such as ponies (in certain states).
Some of the most common tasks service animals perform include:
- Helping guide blind people
- Identifying sounds for deaf people
- Holding open doors for those with physical disabilities
It's important to understand that landlords can not deny service animals. You can set pet policies in Lake Villa, but service animals aren't considered pets.
This also means you can't charge any additional fees for service animals. With that said, you may seek money from a tenant if they have a service animal and it causes property damage. In bad cases, you may even be able to remove the animal through legal proceedings.
What Are Emotional Support Animals?
Emotional support animals also support their owners but in a different way than service animals. They typically don't perform specific tasks, but instead provide emotional support. They often help people with mental health issues such as:
- Anxiety
- ADHD
- Depression
- Stress
- PTSD
Emotional support animals and service animals both fall under the umbrella of "assistance animals". As such, emotional support animals have laws that are the same as service animal laws, so a landlord can't deny them.
What Are Pets?
Pets are different and don't come under the same laws. Owners choose to have pets, but they're not technically required.
As a landlord, you have no legal obligation to allow pets in your property. The decision is typically down to you, so you can establish your own pet policies.
Many landlords allow pets as it gives them access to a much larger tenant pool. Doing so can also increase the amount you can potentially make from a rental property.
Bear in mind, however, that pets may cause property damage or other issues. Think about the pros and cons of allowing pets when looking for tenants. It may be a good idea to speak with an experienced property manager as they can offer valuable insights here.
Allowing Animals in Your Property
Landlords can't deny service or support animals, but you're free to set your own policies depending on how you want to handle things. A property manager can give you advice if you need it to help you decide on whether to allow pets in your rental property.
Grand Realty Group is a professional property management company based in Lake Villa, IL. We have over 20 years of experience and over 380 happy clients.
Take a look at our property management page to find out more about our services.
