Animals are a big part of daily life for millions of Americans. In 2024, 66% of U.S. households owned a pet (The Zebra).
But have you ever wondered what the actual difference between pets, service animals, and emotional support animals is? This question is especially relevant in today's rental landscape.
Landlords often find themselves navigating a maze of regulations and tenant needs. Understanding these designations helps landlords support tenants and stay compliant with service animal laws.
Learn the distinctions between these 3 animal classifications and tenant rights in Flint, Michigan, below.
What are Service Animals?
Service animals, as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), are specifically trained to perform tasks for individuals with disabilities.
These tasks can include:
- Guiding a person with a vision impairment
- Alerting a person who cannot hear sounds
- Pulling a wheelchair to assist with movement
- Protecting and helping a person during seizures
- Reminding someone with a mental illness to take medications
In Flint, landlords need to recognize that service animals are not considered pets; they are working animals. As such, they are immune to housing discrimination policies.
What are Emotional Support Animals?
Emotional support animals (ESAs) provide comfort just by being with a person. Unlike service animals, they do not require specialized training to perform tasks.
However, they are recognized for their therapeutic benefits by providing emotional and psychological support. They can help alleviate symptoms of anxiety, depression, and certain phobias in tenants.
According to the ESAPet emotional support pet guide, around 18% of pet owners classify their pet as an ESA. As a landlord, it's essential to understand that emotional support animals can be any type of domesticated animal and not just dogs.
Why Understanding These Differences Matters
Understanding the distinction is vital for Flint landlords due to legal compliance. Landlords must comply with the Fair Housing Act and local laws regarding support animals.
Showing empathy and accommodating tenants can lead to better tenant relationships and reduce tenant turnover. Landlords must decide the pros and cons of allowing pets in their rental properties over ESAs and service animals.
What Do You Need to Do as a Landlord?
As a landlord, you might be approached by tenants requesting permission to have a service or emotional support animal. It's imperative to have a clear policy in place regarding landlord-tenant responsibilities.
Here are the steps to navigate these situations:
1. Request the necessary documentation from the tenant regarding their service or emotional support animal.
2. Verify that the animal is indeed a service animal if it claims to be.
3. Develop a clear pet policy that includes allowances for service and emotional support animals.
4. Consult legal counsel when in doubt about the regulations to avoid housing discrimination.
It's important to note that service animals and ESAs are exempt from security deposit charges for pets in Michigan.
Let PMI Mid Michigan Help You with Your Property Management Needs Today
Understanding the difference between service and emotional support animals can significantly enhance the landlord-tenant relationship. In Flint, ensuring compliance with laws and providing a supportive environment for tenants will set your property management services apart.
PMI Mid Michigan is a dedicated full-service property management company in Flint, Michigan. We have over 20 years in the industry and can help you manage your rental properties effectively.
Contact PMI Mid Michigan today to discuss your property management needs.
