# Pet Policies

###

#### Important Note on Pet Screening Services

Do we integrate with PetScreening, Petscreening.com, or similar services?\
No. Rentzap does not integrate with third-party pet screening services.

What we do instead - Our team performs basic pet screening using the criteria you set below, examining:

* Animal photos uploaded by applicants
* AI-assisted breed identification
* Service animal documentation review

What we don't do:

* Call veterinarians
* Verify vaccination records
* Conduct behavioral assessments
* Contact ESA letter providers (unless verifying legitimacy)

***

#### Pets Allowed

What it controls: Whether you'll accept pets at all.

Options:

* Yes: Accept pets subject to your restrictions below
* No: No pets allowed

⚠️ Critical Recommendation: Select "Yes"

Even if you don't want pets, selecting "No" creates a problem:

The Service Animal Reality:\
If you select "No," you'll receive a stack of service animal/ESA letters anyway. By selecting "Yes" and using restrictions below, you:

1. Remain compliant with fair housing laws
2. Can apply reasonable restrictions where legally allowed
3. Get proper documentation review from our team
4. Maintain control over pet policies

***

#### Maximum Number of Pets

What it controls: The highest number of animals you'll accept.

Default Setting: 2

Best Practice: Set this to your maximum, then adjust at the property level if needed. Common settings:

* Single family homes: 2-3
* Condos/townhomes: 1-2
* Apartments: 1-2

Service Animals Note: Service animals and ESAs don't count against this limit by law.

***

#### Cats & Dogs

What it controls: Whether you'll accept cats and/or dogs.

Options for each:

* Yes
* No

Recommendation: Enable both unless you have specific property restrictions (e.g., condo rules, severe allergy concerns for shared spaces).

Property-Level Control: You can set "Yes" here and restrict at individual properties.

***

#### Restricted Breeds

What it controls: Specific dog breeds you won't accept.

State Consideration:\
⚠️ Breed restrictions vary by state and are increasingly limited:

Example - Arizona:\
Arizona law now prohibits insurance companies from denying claims based on dog breed. As a result, many Arizona property managers removed breed restrictions entirely.

Other States:\
Check your state's laws. Many states have enacted similar legislation, and federal fair housing guidance increasingly discourages breed restrictions.

Best Practice:

1. Set restrictions broadly (or none at all) in your default criteria
2. Apply specific restrictions at the property level only when required by:
   1. HOA rules
   2. Condo association bylaws
   3. Master insurance policy requirements
3. Document the business justification for any breed restrictions

Common Restricted Breeds (when restrictions apply):

* Pit Bulls / American Staffordshire Terriers
* Rottweilers
* German Shepherds
* Doberman Pinschers
* Chow Chows
* Akitas
* Wolf hybrids

***

#### Weight Restrictions

What it controls: Maximum weight for pets.

Default Setting: None (or highest you'd accept, like 80-100 lbs)

Best Practice:\
Set this to your maximum acceptable weight in default criteria. Adjust stricter at the property level when needed for:

* Condos with weight limits
* Properties with small yards
* Upstairs units with noise concerns

Common Settings:

* No restriction
* 50 lbs (common condo limit)
* 75 lbs (common apartment limit)
* 100+ lbs (single family homes)

Note: Weight limits for service animals are generally not allowed unless the animal would fundamentally alter the property or pose direct threat.

***

#### Pet Age Requirements

What it controls: Minimum age for pets (typically to ensure they're house-trained).

Default Setting: 1 year

Common Settings:

* 0 months (puppies/kittens)
* 1 year (most common)
* 2 years (strict properties)

Reasoning: Younger pets may not be:

* Fully house-trained
* Past destructive puppy/kitten phase
* Temperament-tested

Service Animals Note: Age requirements typically cannot be applied to service animals.

***

#### Other Types of Pets

What it controls: Whether you want to know about non-cat/dog pets.

Options:

* Yes: Applicants must disclose all pets (fish, reptiles, birds, etc.)
* No: Only cats and dogs must be disclosed

⚠️ Recommendation: Select "Yes"

Why you want to know:

* Aquariums: Water damage risk, especially large tanks
* Reptiles/Amphibians: Humidity requirements, escape concerns
* Birds: Noise and odor issues
* Chickens: Increasingly common in urban areas
* Farm Animals: Ostriches, goats, pigs (yes, this happens)

Arizona Example: The transcript mentions receiving applications with ostriches, chickens, and other unexpected animals. You want to know about these before approving!

What happens: Applicants must disclose these pets. You can then decide on a case-by-case basis.