When you own an Asheville investment property, one of the most difficult decisions is whether to allow pets in your home. Around 66% of American households own a pet, so it makes sense to advertise your rental home as pet-friendly.
Due to the risks associated with allowing pets on your property, U.S. landlords aren't required to accommodate them; the rules change when it comes to assistance animals. This is a broad category of creatures, including service and support animals.
Keep reading to learn about assistance animals and how they differ from pets.
About Service Animals
Service animals enjoy a wide range of privileges under the Americans with Disabilities Act. They're allowed into many public places regardless of local animal regulations, and landlords can't prevent them from living in their homes either.
These types of assistance animals are specially trained to perform tasks for people with disabilities, i.e.:
- Helping blind people navigate the world
- Pulling a wheelchair for people with mobility issues
- Detecting a pending seizure or guarding their owners during a seizure
- Fetching necessary items for people with physical disabilities
Most service animals are dogs, but miniature horses can also fulfill these roles in some situations.
When you receive an application from a tenant with a service animal, you must waive all your tenant pet policies to accommodate them. That includes the pet deposit, but the tenant is responsible for any damages caused by their service animal.
If your accommodation is pet-friendly but has a size or breed restriction on the type of dogs allowed, you must waive that, too.
Understanding Support Animals
Support animals can be any animal usually regarded as a pet, from small rodents and birds to large dogs. Many of these animals have specialized training, but don't perform specific tasks.
For instance, an emotional support animal may be well-socialized, house-trained, and capable of advanced obedience work, but it doesn't perform an actual task for their owner. Their roles are usually supportive in that they offer comfort in stressful situations or help alleviate mental ailments, like depression.
Although support animals don't enjoy the same privileges as service animals in public spaces, landlords must make reasonable accommodations for them in rental units. That means you must waive your pet deposit and pet policies for these creatures.
About Pets
Pets are any other animals that don't fall into the above categories. Landlords can place restrictions on pets according to size, breed, and species and may charge an additional security deposit for tenants with these animals.
You can charge a higher rent when you allow pets in your rental homes and there is high demand for these accommodations. Some of the risks associated with pets include:
- Damage to floors and fixtures
- Noise disturbances
- Lingering unpleasant smells
Additional tenant screening processes can help alleviate some of these risks.
Get Help With All Your Property Management Questions
Allowing service and support animals in your investment properties might be mandatory, but you can alleviate some of the additional landlord responsibilities that go along with them by hiring a property manager.
PMI Mountain and Main is a highly experienced and well-established property serving Asheville and the surrounding area. We can assist you with property inspections, tenant screening, and maintenance to ensure your property retains its value and profitability, no matter what.
Browse our blog for more property management tips or reach out for expert assistance with every aspect of managing your Asheville investment properties.
