When you’re renting out residential property, the question “Do you allow pets?” is bound to come up. According to the Zillow Rentals Consumer Housing Trends Report 2020, 60% of single-family home renters and 42% of multifamily renters own a pet. Furthermore, 47% of renters think it is “very” or “extremely” important that a rental unit allows pets. It is clear that residential renters want to have pets, and rental units that accommodate this desire can earn more cash for the luxury.
So if you’re a landlord that is considering allowing pets in your rental properties, your first question is probably “What should I charge?” In this post, we’ll do a deep dive into the different types of pet fees associated with rental units, how each works, and how to decide on amounts.
No Limits in Florida
While some states have laws and regulations related to how much a landlord can charge for various pet fees associated with renting residential properties, Florida does not. In Florida, landlords can charge whatever they want for the various fees related to allowing pets in their rental properties (except service animals – see next section). However, landlords should keep in mind that charging exorbitant amounts for pet fees will deter many potential renters from even inquiring about their properties.
Certain Animals Don’t Count
If a potential tenant has a properly registered service animal or emotional support animal with documentation to verify, then a landlord in Florida cannot charge any extra fees for that animal to stay with the tenant on the property. Service animals are protected by the Americans with Disabilities Act, while emotional support animals are protected by Florida law.
However, these animals are not protected in situations where they pose a direct threat to others or property. If the animal is not properly trained, well-behaved, and not aggressive, then these protections will not apply, and the landlord can request that the animal be removed, or charge fees for their presence.
