Do you know your rights as a pet owner when renting or buying?

If you are anything like me, you LOVE animals and your pet is a major part of your family. When buying or selling a home, your pet and their needs must be taken into consideration. I recently became a designated Pet-Friendly Real Estate Agent to ensure I can help my clients know their rights when it comes to their furry friends!

There is a big difference between a SERVICE animal and a SUPPORT animal – and both have rights!

SERVICE ANIMALS require training and complete tasks. There are protections at the federal, state, and city levels that allow disabled persons to have service animals in their homes. To deny this is a violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act along with the Fair Housing Act.

SUPPORT animals provide support to people with stress, depression, and PTSD and are prescribed by a medical professional. Did you know that you aren’t required to let your landlord know about a support animal and you can select NO when asked if you have a pet on the application? There can also be no discrimination against breed or weight on Emotional Support Animals – all sizes, colors, and types are loved equally!

It is illegal to charge someone with a disability an extra fee to keep a service dog or an emotional support, therapy, or assistance animal; fines can be imposed if you are told otherwise.

In a realtor.com® survey of 2,000 consumers conducted, 68% of pet owners said they would pass on the perfect home if it didn’t meet their pet’s needs—even amid tight housing inventories. I absolutely fall under that statistic – let me help you find the right home for both you & your pet!