5. Charging Illegal Fees or Banning Service Animals
Landlords constantly invent new ways to extract extra money from renters, from exorbitant late fees to mandatory “administrative” charges. Many states cap the amount a landlord can charge for late rent, typically restricting it to a small percentage of your total monthly payment (e.g., 5%). If your landlord charges a $150 daily late fee, they are likely violating state consumer protection laws.
More importantly, landlords frequently violate federal law regarding assistance animals. Under the Fair Housing Act (FHA), landlords must provide reasonable accommodations for tenants with disabilities. This includes allowing service animals and Emotional Support Animals (ESAs), even if the building enforces a strict “no pets” policy. Furthermore, landlords cannot legally charge you pet rent, pet deposits, or pet cleaning fees for a legally recognized assistance animal. The law views these animals as essential medical aids, akin to a wheelchair, not as pets.
If your landlord tries to reject your ESA or demands a $500 pet fee for your service dog, they are committing illegal landlord behavior tenants frequently experience. Provide your landlord with a proper letter from a licensed healthcare professional outlining your need for the animal. If the landlord continues to refuse, you can file a discrimination complaint directly with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).
3 thoughts on “7 Ways Landlords Illegally Violate Tenant Rights That Most Renters Accept”
What are landlord/owner rights when squatters move in illegally?
They’re all money hungry slum lords!! I got mold in my basement for 5 years Ive asked to be fixed. A screen door broken Ive submitted 5 work orders on and the maintenance team is too stupid to fix it! A water leak it took them 5 years to find. It had to leak into another unit for them to finally send a plumber to fix it. But they raise my rent every year!
What protects a landlord from a renter who leaves a upstairs window open during the winter and freezes the heat pipe which burst and floods the floor and damage the main floor to an extent it cost $25,000 in damage and he doesn’t have a bank account and hides his cash so you can’t collect money for the damage.