Can My Landlord Evict Me for Having a Dog?
is "Can my landlord evict me for having a dog?" The answer isn't straightforward, though. Each situation is different, and each state has its own laws that must be followed.
Let's look at what a landlord can and can't do, generally, when a pet is a part of the equation.
Is It Possible That a Landlord Can Evict Me for Having a Dog?
when it comes to having a pet in a rental property. In some cases, it's possible to evict the person. If the landlord owns a pet-free property and a tenant brings in a pet without permission, it might be considered a breach of the lease. If the state allows, the landlord might be in the right to evict that tenant.
However, the landlord must follow the state's laws concerning eviction. He may give a 30-day warning that pets must be removed from the unit. If that doesn't work, he could also file for eviction with the court system. But, what he can't do is remove you or the pet himself without following protocols. He also can't lock you out of place either because most states don't allow that.
When Can’t a Landlord Evict You for Having a Dog?
Having a dog on the premises without permission could have you looking for a new place to live. But, there are a few situations where it's not possible for a landlord to ask you to pack your bags just because you have a dog. The main reason would be if you have a support dog for a medical condition. This could be for:
- A blind tenant
- Physically disabled person
- Mentally/emotionally challenged person
In most cases, an emotional support animal letter may be required if the dog in question is there to help calm your anxieties. A therapist will often type up this kind of letter for a renter to give to their landlords. You need to prove that the dog is there to help with an acceptable symptom of depression, anxiety disorder, or post-traumatic stress disorder.
In most states, it's against the law for a landlord to evict a person or refuse to rent to a person because of a disability. They also can't charge more rent or change the requirements for an application due to a disability the person has, except when you have a support dog.
The rentals that do accept pets may have restrictions on the type of dog a renter can have. However, the landlord usually can't enforce it when your support dog happens to be an animal that's not normally allowed.
Can a Landlord Evict Me or Refuse to Rent to Me for Having a Support Dog?
Generally, they can't evict a person for having a support dog. There are rare instances, though, where things can get a little hairy. For example, if the renter has a dog that provides support services to the person but gets aggressive toward others or damages the property. The landlord will have to do something to ensure the safety of everyone there. They might try other things first, though, which include:
- Asking to have the dog take obedience classes
- They might ban the animal from certain areas of the property to keep them away from others.
- Give a warning requiring the animal's behavior change or steps will be taken for eviction.
In that case, landlords will have to seek advice from lawyers, and they may possibly seek resolution within the court system. A judge, overhearing the case, may decide an eviction is appropriate in that situation.
When it comes to denying you a chance to rent a unit belonging to the landlord, there are some regulations that are not going to be in your favor. While they have to provide reasonable accommodations for a person's disability, it can't put them into financial hardship to do so. To rip apart a back area on the property, for example, just so your dog can have a yard to do its business in, is likely going to cost too much money.
What You Can Do if a Landlord Threatens to Evict You for Having a Dog
If the landlord wants to remove you from the property because you have a dog, and you don't feel that it's warranted, there are some rights you have as a tenant that would help your case. Unfortunately, there are so many different scenarios, and each one is subject to different laws and regulations that will vary with each state as well as your local area.
Sometimes, consulting HUD, Housing Urban Development, will get you some advice on what steps to take. Usually, you will be advised to write a letter outlining all the regulations that the landlord is overlooking by seeking to evict you from your rental home. To do this, you would need extensive research to figure out what rules they're breaking, though. To make the process easier, you can consult DoNotPay.
How DoNotPay can Help You When a Landlord Wants to Evict You for Having a Dog
DoNotPay is a tool you can use to help you resolve a disagreement between you and the landlord regarding your pet if you're in the right. We can help you learn the eviction laws in your state, and figure out what protections there are in your situation. If necessary, we can help you write a letter to the landlord explaining all the points of your case.
To do this, all you need to do is:
- Search for and open the Landlord Protection product on DoNotPay.
- Select which issue applies to you.
- Answer a simple set of questions so our chatbot can collect the necessary information to create your demand letter.
- Choose whether you want DoNotPay to send the demand letter to your landlord or roommate on your behalf. If you already tried sending a demand letter and it didn't work, we can help you start the small claims court process.
What Else Can DoNotPay Help With?
When it comes to dealing with landlords, DoNotPay has you covered in many ways. Some of the areas we can help are:
- Learn how to kick out a roommate
- Learn your rights as a renter
- Learn how to sue your landlord for your deposit
- Get help sending a letter to the landlord for repairs
- Figure out where to file a complaint against your landlord
- Find out if the landlord can evict you without notice in your state
- Find out how long the landlord has to return your deposit
- Figure out how to get your security deposit back from the landlord
- Learn what your landlord's repair responsibilities are
- Learn what you can do if the landlord is threatening to evict you
If you have issues with your landlord, whether it's about a pet or not, we're here to help. Just use and let us show you what you need to do in order to protect your rights.