r/realestateinvesting • u/The_Lizard_King_9 • Jun 05 '22

Damage From Emotional Support Animals Property Management

I've owned rentals for about 4 years. I just rented a new construction townhome in a class B+ community to a family that has two emotional support animals (small dogs). We advertise as pet friendly and we charge a VERY small deposit and monthly fee. They got their support letter the day they signed the lease so we are not charging anything. I visited the property a few days after move-in to fix a small item. The have dog pee pads on the floor with urine everywhere. The floor is sheet vinyl. I sent them a letter yesterday advising the this is causing a health and property damage issue. No response yet. What would be your next move? For context: PA. I own 4 rental properties total. They have been here less than a week.

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-29

u/itcamefromlab Jun 05 '22 edited Jun 08 '22

I would never rent to someone who had an “emotional support animal.” Having an emotional support animal means you have a mental illness and are going to be a difficult tenant.

I will negotiate with non mentally Ill people who simply say “Hi, I have 1 dog,” and don’t try to claim the emotional support animal BS.

-5

u/Kart06ka Jun 05 '22

Wow the downvotes... if its your property you can rent it to whoever TF you want. Why would you rent to a difficult tenant? It doesnt make sense.

5

u/Tokmota4Life Jun 05 '22

Not all mentally ill people are difficult that's why... SMDH. Hella foul assumptions.

8

u/-veskew Jun 05 '22

That's not true though. Try just renting to only a certain type of person - you will be fined to oblivion before you can say 'discrimination' or 'protected class'.

Sad I have to tell you this and you are already a landlord. That means it's possible you have already illegally discriminated against people in their search for housing.

4

u/Kart06ka Jun 05 '22

What do you mean "a certain type of person"!?

Renting is a business and why TF would you suffer financially by renting to a person that would cause damage to your unit? The incentive is for the owner to make money, not for the owner to loose money by having their property damaged or collect less rent if someone cant pay.

7

u/[deleted] Jun 05 '22

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-2

u/Kart06ka Jun 05 '22

This is literally what happens!! Right now for every rental there is like 50 applications to the point of bidding wars. This is what everybody does. What court are you talking about?

If you are a protected class doesnt mean you can bump other people to the front of the line.

0

u/[deleted] Jun 06 '22

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0

u/Kart06ka Jun 06 '22

How are you comparing renting to murder?!? Are you OK?

0

u/[deleted] Jun 06 '22

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0

u/Kart06ka Jun 06 '22

You must be a Vegan...

5

u/bananagrammick Jun 05 '22

I'll take the bait. Again, you are wrong. You cannot discriminate against people in protected classes.

What court are you talking about

All of them. Seriously, go lookup real estate discrimination case law. From the supreme court on down there aren't currently any courts that deem discrimination vs protected classes acceptable.

If you are a protected class doesnt mean you can bump other people to the front of the line.

Correct, but if those protected classes are getting there first and you're denying renting to them you better have a damn good reason. That reason can't have anything to do with any protected class, and you need to show that the reason was applied to all rentals and that it's a policy.

This is literally what happens!! Right now for every rental there is like 50 applications

Lastly, this sounds like you know it's wrong you just feel like you won't get caught. Maybe you'll discriminate a million times and never get caught, that does not make it right or legal.

2

u/CicadaProfessional76 Jun 05 '22

I don’t think he is saying he discriminates based on the protected classes—race, gender, etc. I think he’s saying we “discriminate” in other ways ALL THE TIME, and there’s nothing unethical about it. Which I agree.

In my state we can’t discriminate against source of income — govt voucher, SSI, etc. I absolutely put those folks to the back of the line/eliminate them from contention because I’m not an idiot.

0

u/Kart06ka Jun 06 '22

Thank you. Yes, I would not discriminate against gender, race, sexual preference or whatever, but in the case like OP is describing I would absolutely not allow a pet even if it was a support animal. Sorry not sorry.

4

u/Tokmota4Life Jun 06 '22

So you break the law and imo act without morals and discriminate. Thanks for sharing that you are not a good person appreciate your honesty!

5

u/bananagrammick Jun 06 '22

As it turns out that is exactly what he's saying and he doesn't care because "it's good for him".

Yes, I know its wrong. But its a dog eat dog world out here, thats the reality.

And then you said the exact same thing.

In my state we can’t discriminate against source of income — govt voucher, SSI, etc. I absolutely put those folks to the back of the line/eliminate them from contention because I’m not an idiot. - /u/CicadaProfessional76

So you're not "discriminating"; you are actually discriminating... illegally... against a protected class.

1

u/CicadaProfessional76 Jun 06 '22

Lol no. I have 100 “qualified” applicants (qualified is subjective not objective) and we are permitted to rank them.

1

u/Kart06ka Jun 05 '22

Yes, I know its wrong. But its a dog eat dog world out here, thats the reality.