What do I do about an unauthorized pet?
Quick answer
An unauthorized pet is any animal a tenant keeps without your written approval. First confirm it is truly a pet and not a documented service or assistance animal, which follow different rules. Review your lease, document the violation, then send written notice. Usually you either approve the pet under a signed addendum or require the tenant to remove it.
Separate a real violation from a protected animal
Before you send anything, confirm what you are dealing with. Service animals and assistance animals are not pets under fair housing rules, and they are handled very differently from a hidden dog or cat. Sending a violation notice for a protected animal can trigger a discrimination claim.
If the tenant says the animal is an assistance animal, you may generally request reliable documentation when the need is not obvious. The exact standards vary, so review the fair housing guidance in the state guides at /laws/ before you respond.
Confirm the pet and document it
Verify the animal actually lives there rather than visiting. Look for food bowls, a litter box, scratch or chew damage, barking reports, or a leash by the door during inspections.
- Note the date you discovered the animal and how.
- Keep photos from lawful inspections or maintenance visits.
- Save any messages where the tenant mentions the animal.
A clean record matters, because unauthorized pets often lead to deposit disputes over damage, odor, or fleas later on.
Offer approval or removal
Send a written notice that cites the pet clause in the lease. Give the tenant a clear choice: bring the animal into compliance, or remove it by a reasonable date. Many landlords prefer approval, because a documented pet is far easier to manage than a hidden one.
If you approve, put it in writing with a pet addendum covering the animal, any pet rent or deposit your state allows, and the tenant's responsibility for damage. Whether you can charge a pet deposit or fee, and any cap, varies by state, so confirm the limits before you set them.
Protect the property and follow the process
Unauthorized pets create real costs: scratched floors, stained carpet, chewed trim, and lingering odor. If you let the animal stay, schedule an inspection and document current condition so you can separate new damage from old.
If the tenant refuses to comply, follow your state's cure and notice process exactly. Deadlines and cure rights vary, and one missed step can delay you for weeks. For a contested case, get advice from a local attorney rather than guessing.
How Rentari helps
Rentari helps you handle a pet issue by the book. Keep the entire exchange, including your notice and the tenant's reply, in one timestamped thread with Messaging and Renewals. When you decide to allow the animal, add a pet addendum and countersign it through E-Sign and Leases. It stores a court-ready record of who agreed to what.
Before you draft that addendum, run your lease past AI Lease Audit to flag weak or unenforceable pet language. If damage turns up at move-out, the security deposit calculator helps you itemize deductions against your state's rules instead of guessing.
Related questions
Is an emotional support animal the same as a pet?
Can I charge for a pet I discover after move-in?
What if the tenant hides the pet during inspections?
This article is general information for landlords, not legal, tax, or financial advice. Rules vary by state and city; verify specifics with the official statute or a licensed professional. See our state law guides.