HOUSE & APARTMENT
Pets and Leases In Texas, landlords can create their own rules about pets and put the rules in the lease.
Composed by TexasLawHelp.org (/directory/texaslawhelporg) • Last Updated on January 10, 2023
Before signing a lease, you should read and understand the landlord's pet policy. Texas does not have any specific tenant pet laws. Landlords can create their own rules for pets and put them in your lease. The lease might: 1. Completely prohibit pets; 2. Allow tenants to have pets, but only certain types or breeds, 3. Allow pets after registering the pet with management and paying a pet deposit, or 4. Not say anything about pets (no pet restrictions). Can I be evicted for violating my lease's pet policy? Yes, unless your pet is an assistance animal. Under Texas law, you can be evicted for violating any part of the lease agreement. Keeping any pet that is not allowed under the lease, even temporarily, may violate the lease. Violating the lease with an unauthorized pet can be grounds for eviction. What is an assistance animal? An assistance animal is not considered a pet and is either (1) a service animal or (2) an emotional support animal. Service animals are defined as dogs that are trained to do work or perform tasks for people with disabilities. Emotional support animals (ESA) are animals that provide companionship to an individual with a mental or psychiatric disability. The individual seeking the ESA
Made with FlippingBook - Online magazine maker