If you count yourself among the 71% of pet owners who think their pet improves their mental health, you may be wondering if your companion qualifies as a support animal.
Support animals provide their owner with psychiatric support through their companionship. If you suffer from depression, anxiety, or another form of mental illness, having a pet around can help you manage your symptoms.
But can you have your support animal in a Denver rental property? In today's post, we'll discuss living in a rental property with a support animal and whether it's allowed.
Every landlord has their own rental property rules, but there are emotional support animal laws in place to handle this kind of thing. Keep reading, and we'll clear this issue up.
Living In a Rental Property with Support Animals
Under most circumstances, it's a property owner's choice whether they want to let pets in their rentals or not. As a pet owner, it's important to understand the effect that they can have on a rental property.
From dander and waste to scratches and other physical damage, it's hard to deny the damage that a pet can cause. Landlords want to ensure that their property doesn't experience any unnecessary damage due to pets.
If you consider your pet a support animal, however, there may be workarounds. Emotional support animals get different treatment under Colorado law.
Emotional Support Animal Laws
To have your pet registered as an emotional support animal, you need to receive a letter from a licensed mental health professional. If you've got a psychiatrist or doctor treating your mental illness, all they need to do is sign this letter, and you can take it to your landlord.
In most situations, your landlord will have to accept your pet if you've got the letter. They can still refuse if your pet poses a physical threat to people in the neighborhood or creates a major damage risk for the rental property.
Your landlord may also put a few pet-related stipulations in your lease agreement. A pet policy might include clauses that ensure that the tenant pays for any pet-caused damage, that vaccines are up to date, and that the owner follows leash and waste pickup laws. They may also charge a more significant security deposit.
Finding the Right Rental Property Owner
You always want your emotional support animal to be welcome in your rental, not only because the landlord is forced to do it. Finding the right rental property owner to accommodate your needs is possible.
Start your search with a local property manager. These services can help match you with a landlord who is open to pets.
Let Laureate Ltd. Help You and Your Pet
It's easy to let stress take hold when you're looking for an apartment to accommodate support animals. At Laureate Ltd., we specialize in helping Denver renters match with the right landlords for a mutually beneficial partnership.
To find landlords who don't mind having pets around, check out our rental listings. We'll have you and your pet in the perfect home in no time.
