Animals are, understandably, a point of contention between landlords and tenants. Issues stemming from fear of damage or liability often cause landlords to hesitate about opening the doors to pet owners. Even if you have a strict no pet policy, you should know that service animals are not legally considered pets and are given certain legal privileges, and you may find yourself in a sticky legal situation if you aren’t in the know.
Landlords need to follow certain guidelines when allowing renters to have assistance animals. Simply put, you are required to allow service animals in your rental property if the tenant or applicant qualifies for reasonable accommodation and if they have a verifiable need for an assistance animal.
For more information about a landlord’s responsibility visit Ultimate Guide for Landlords and Service Animals.