Pet Policies in Housing

Stavros Center for Independent Living wants you to know that if you have a pet and your landlord is threatening to evict you, there are laws that may be able to protect you.

The Federal Pet Law allows persons with disabilities and persons who are elderly living in the Federally assisted rental housing to own or keep common household pets (dogs, cats,

Birds, fish, or turtles). Owners and managers may make reasonable rules for the keeping of pets and may require a pet deposit.

And in Massachusetts, The Housing Rights Law requires landlord to make reasonable accommodations to their rules, policies, practices so that people with disabilities can reasonably live in and enjoy the premises.  This may include allowing a resident who has a disability to own a pet.