ABA Family Legal Guide

Renting Residential Property

Renting Basics

Lease Clauses to Consider

Can the tenants own pets?

With an oral lease, tenants would probably have the right to own a pet unless the landlord specifies otherwise.

Written leases usually have a clause prohibiting pets on the premises or requiring tenants to get written permission for them from the landlord. A tenant who violated this clause could be evicted if the pet remained after the landlord asked for its removal.