My renter has a DR note saying he needs a dog? wtf?

[LT1Pat]

I doubt a doctors note matters. He's entitled to the dog but he's not entitled to break a contract in which he had and still has the choice to live in a dog friendly apartment.

 

[The Man]

i would confirm that the dog is trained as that type of dog, and not just a dog he picked up to play with. If he has a note, then assumed he should have gotten the correctly trained dog?

 

[Canadian_Dave]

I doubt a doctors note matters. He's entitled to the dog but he's not entitled to break a contract in which he had and still has the choice to live in a dog friendly apartment.

They do have to prove they have a note from a doctor to have a pet if a leased is signed saying they cannot. I live in a dog free complex and one of my neighbors showed up with a dog one day, I complained to the complex and they said there is nothing they can do because the renter has a letter from his DR that the dog helps the renter control his stress.

The complex ended up moving him into a dog friendly area of the complex, but as far as evicting them they said they had no grounds.

 

[wikdsvt]

Do a Pet Addendum!

Charge them a pet security deposit and a monthly charge for having the pet.

When they do not pay the security deposit or monthly pet charge, evict them for non payment of rent. This is going to turn into a huge clusterfuck.

That way you avoid the entire, "you are just evicting them because they have a dog, which was prescribed by a doctor for an alleged disability, and you are violating the American with Disabilities Act... even though they never asked for accommodations."

 

[Wizeguy]

The part of sneaking it in without the note first is what I dont like.
Got an Attorney who's going to write him a letter requesting his Doctors note / phone number and advise from there.
He said bottom line it says "no pets" they should of made arragments to move and not break the lease agreement.

 

[jsxtreme]

I've never in my entire life seen a pitbull as a "working dog".

Sounds like a B.S. story to me.

My pitbull isn't an offical service dog, but he helps my disabled mother greatly. Picks things up for her ect. More and more police agencies are starting to use them as K9 units also.

I still wouldn't want anyone renting my house out to have any dog though.

 

[chunkybs]

I've never in my entire life seen a pitbull as a "working dog".

Sounds like a B.S. story to me.

Before yesterday I would have agreed, but I saw a lady in the Twelve Oaks mall yesterday evening with a pit sitting next to her with the the vest things that service dogs wear.

 

[TWOBEERS]

How much time is left on the lease? Have you seen/met the dog?

 

[WhiteHawk]

You are a lot nicer than I would be. I would have filed eviction on him the second I saw the dog. Make it his problem to stay, because if he sits on his ass for 30 days he has lost the right.

Even if you try to be nice, anyone who pull stuff like that isn't someone I would want in my place. I would boot him at the end of the lease no matter what. Get some good tenants instead.

-Geoff

 

[wikdsvt]

who cares if he has a dr's note. he is still breaching the terms of the lease!

 

[Golden]

Ask to see the note. Call the doctor to confirm.

HIPAA laws prevent this info from being shared.

 

[LT1Pat]

It would be like taking out a loan then getting a doctors note saying I'm too unhealthy to pay it back. Just because you have a doctors note doesn't mean that you can break a contract.

 

[Wizeguy]

HIPAA laws prevent this info from being shared.

X2
You have to tippy toe around shit like this or you can have a lawsuit slap you silly. Thats what I need to avoid.
They are good tenents, they pay on time, keep the house semi decent and have 10 months left on the contract.
I'm not looking to toss there ass out rudely but if the letters legit (which I have doubts) there gonna have to pay an additional $1200 deposit. Bottom line.

 

[Scooter70]

HIPAA laws prevent this info from being shared.

I disagree. A doctor writes a note so that the patient can give it to someone. In this case, it's for the landlord. Landlord has the right to call the doctor to verify that it's legit. Doc can't share the diagnosis but can confirm whether or not he wrote the note.

That said, it has nothing to do with the fact that the lease contract said "No Pets" and renter is in violation of that part of the contract.

 

[RacerX]

They cannot just proclaim that the dog is a service dog. Some people try to pretend by just buying one of the vests. It must be a registered service dog and carry the appropriate papers with it when they are in public.

 

[TWOBEERS]

I disagree. A doctor writes a note so that the patient can give it to someone. In this case, it's for the landlord. Landlord has the right to call the doctor to verify that it's legit.

This^^^. Also, if they are paying on time and the dog isn't tearing it up you may be better off just stomaching it and wait it out till the lease is up to avoid all of the possible legal (money) backlash and grief. Then at that point make it what you need it to be or get them out at that point. I have started allowing small dogs in our units. So far no problems.

 

[ReiKo]

Wonder if they ever registered that pet to SCS...

 

[Quick86]

I've never in my entire life seen a pitbull as a "working dog".

Sounds like a B.S. story to me.

They were originally bred as working AND family dogs.

 

[mdhmi]

The type of dog, whatever certifications the dog may or may not have, or the reasons why the dog was acquired are irrelevant.
The lease clearly stipulated that dogs weren't permitted. The renters knew this full well.
A doctors note requiring a dog for stress. GMAFB. Take a few Xanax & rub one out like everyone else.

 

[Bateater]

The renter would have to notify the property owner of the need for the dog and he has to have a note for why. Just like how you can take a mental health pony or dog onto a plane...but you have to have a note and you have to have it to show if it's asked for.