There's no better feeling than coming home to a dog that greets you with enthusiasm. Recent research shows that 74% of people with pets believe their mental health improved after they brought a pet into their homes. Statistics like this are heartwarming, but they make for challenging decisions for landlords.
Many landlords puzzle over the distinction between service animals, emotional support animals, and pets. If this is you, don't stress about it. Read on to learn about the differences between them and what your rights and responsibilities are.
Recognizing Service Animals
Service animals are a legally recognized category of animals specifically trained to perform specific tasks for people. The most common type of service animal is a dog, but they can vary widely. Some people have different types of animals based on their specific needs:
- Dog or cat trained to detect and alert their owner of an oncoming seizure
- Dog that detects low or high blood sugar
- A capuchin monkey that provides an extra set of hands
- A bird that lets its owner know someone is at the door
Regardless of the duty an animal performs, the Fair Housing Act requires landlords to allow service animals in their properties. You cannot charge any kind of pet deposit or fee because they are not a pet. Failure to allow a tenant their service animal could land you in hot water for disability discrimination.
Emotional Support Animals
Emotional support animals are also animals that perform a specific function for their owners. The distinction between them and service animals is that they are not required to have any training to do their jobs. This means that there is a risk that they may have behavioral issues, but many do not.
The benefits of support animals are primarily related to mental health. They ease depression, loneliness, and anxiety. Many people rely on emotional support animals to get through anxiety attacks and suicidal ideations, both incredibly important roles!
Allowing emotional support animals for mental health is required, but the tenant still has to pay for any damage they do.
Pets
Pets are the simplest animals to make decisions about with regard to your property. They're companion animals that don't provide any specific service or function for tenants. Regardless, many people find that having a pet in their home improves their mental health.
Many landlords restrict specific animals and dog breeds to limit their risk and comply with insurance requirements. You can also refuse to allow any pets at all, but that may make your property less marketable to certain populations.
Know Your Rights and Responsibilities as a Landlord
In a perfect world, a landlord would give their tenants access to everything that makes them happy, but that's not always feasible. Regardless, there are areas where you're required to make accommodations when it comes to support animals. Knowing the difference between options and responsibilities helps you make informed decisions.
Do you want to spend less time stressing out about your landlord responsibilities and more time living your life? Hire a property management company to handle it all for you! Contact PMI Sarasota today to learn how we can make your life easier and boost the success of your properties!
