Seattle has made a name as one of the most pet-friendly cities for renters. Are other areas in Washington State doing the same? In Puget Sound, many landlords are considering revising their no-pet policy to make space for a wider pool of tenants.
Whether or not you want to allow pets in your rental, there are still some things you need to know about certain animals, particularly service and support animals. Both of these fall under the category of assistance animals, and they're not the same as pets.
Read on to learn the difference between pets vs service animals and emotional support animals in our simple guide.
What Are Service and Support Animals?
Now that you have your first rental property, it's time to learn about different scenarios you may encounter. It's becoming more and more likely that you'll have tenants with assistance animals.
Service animals are animals (almost always dogs) who have been trained to provide a certain skill set to disabled owners. Seeing eye dogs are a popular example.
Emotional support animals are often dogs but you may also encounter emotional support cats and other animals. These animals provide comfort and support for people with diagnosed mental health disorders.
What Do Landlords Need to Know About Assistance Animals?
Why does this matter to you? Assistance animals fall under the legislation of Housing and Urban Development. They are considered accommodations for the people who own them. That means that you can't reject an applicant or evict a tenant solely because they have an assistance animal.
You can ask for some proof that an animal has service or emotional support status. This often comes in the form of a letter from a doctor or medical professional.
You can't ask why the applicant or tenant needs an assistance animal. Even if the disability in question is "invisible," it's not your right to know what it is. It's only your right to know that the animal in question was prescribed for service or emotional support.
Should You Open Up Your Pet Policy?
Now you understand the differences in animal roles. Assistance animals aren't "pets" and therefore, your pet policy doesn't apply.
In light of this legislation, should you open up your pet policy? Allowing pets and charging a pet fee is a great way to attract more tenants while protecting your property.
However, this won't impact tenants with assistance animals. Even if you allow pets, you can't charge pet fees for registered service or emotional support animals. You can, however, withhold a portion of a tenant's security deposit to cover damages caused by an assistance animal.
Call PMI Puget Sound for Compliant Leasing Strategies
Will the rest of Washington fall in step with Seattle when it comes to pets? While we're seeing an increase in pet-friendly rentals in Puget Sound, the fact remains that service and support animals are a different category entirely.
PMI Puget Sound is here to support property investors in every way. That includes ensuring that your leasing strategies are compliant with local, state, and federal laws. Contact us to boost your portfolio and earn passive income.
