Do You Have to Allow Pets in Your Rental Property? (No—But You’d Be Dumb Not to Consider It)
Do you have to allow pets in your rental property? The short answer is no. But if that’s the only answer you’re working with, you’re missing the point.
Pets vs. Assistance Animals—Know the Difference
You’re allowed to say no to pets. But you’re not allowed to say no to assistance animals. That’s not my opinion—that’s federal law.
A pet is an animal you allow in your property as a companion to the tenant. A dog, a cat, maybe even a guinea pig. That’s up to you.
But an assistance animal is an animal that provides support for a person with a disability. It could be a service animal or an emotional support animal. These are not considered pets under the law, and landlords are required to make reasonable accommodations.
So no, you don’t have to allow pets. But you do have to allow animals if they meet the legal standard as an assistance animal. If you don’t, you’re just asking for a discrimination complaint.
Why a Pet-Friendly Policy Often Makes Sense
Over 60% of U.S. households have pets. That means if you say “no pets,” you just cut out more than half the people who might want to rent your place.
Now, some properties just aren’t built for animals. I get that. Small spaces, no yard, delicate finishes—fine. But if your property could reasonably handle an animal, you’re turning down more rent and risking longer vacancies for… what, exactly? The possibility of a mess?
Qualified Tenants Are Usually Good Pet Owners
Here’s what we’ve seen at One Focus: people who are qualified tenants almost always are great pet owners too. They’re financially stable, responsible, and respectful. That usually extends to how they care for their animals and your property.
I’ve got two dogs myself—a brown lab and a black lab. My house is clean, smells great, and everything’s in one piece. If I applied to rent your property, you’d be thrilled. Same goes for most pet owners who’ve got their act together.
How We Screen Pets and Minimize Risk
We don’t just ask, “Do you have a pet?” and cross our fingers. We use a third-party screening service to verify everything.
We’re talking vet records, vaccination status, breed, weight, and more. We know exactly which animal is going into the unit. No surprises.
And yeah—we charge pet rent. Because responsible pet owners expect it and are more than willing to pay it. It is a privilege to have animals kept in a rental property.
No Pet Policy Doesn’t Mean No Animals
Even if you say no pets, that doesn’t block assistance animals. You’re still required to accommodate them, and you can’t charge fees or pet deposits for them either.
In fact, we’ve found that overly restrictive pet policies tend to lead to more reasonable accommodation requests. When people feel shut out, they look for a way in—and that often comes with a doctor’s note.
By having a smart, pet-friendly policy, you can actually reduce the number of tricky legal requests and just approve the animal under the normal process.
I’m PM Jen, the—landlord educator, real estate investor, and your favorite straight-talker in the buy-and-hold game. Hold It With PM Jen exists to help real estate investors protect their assets, grow their cash flow, and stop spinning their wheels.
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