Pet, Service & Support Animal Policy

NO ANIMALS,

except for service animals and support animals for disabled tenants as mandated by law,

UNLESS, 

you receive the written permission of the Landlord.

For these tenants the following policy will apply:

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Only  approved animal(s) are allowed.

Tenant animal will be well behaved and under the tenant’s control at all times and will not pose a threat or apparent threat to the safety of other Tenants, their guests or other people on or near the premises. If in the opinion of the Landlord, the Tenant’s animal pose such a threat the landlord will serve Tenant with the appropriate notice to terminate the tenancy. The Landlord does not discriminate against an animal based on the animals breed.

All animals must wear verification tags attached to a collar that is worn at all times. The Tenant will maintain a valid certification of vaccinations issued by a licensed veterinarian. The Tenant must renew all pet registrations as required by local law. The Tenant will provide these documents to the landlord upon request. 

Cats and dogs must be neutered/spayed. 

Any damage to the leased premises caused by a pet or an aquarium leak must be immediately repaired, cleaned, and/or replaced at the Tenants expense (including but not limited to stained carpets, broken window shades, scratched and chewed cabinetry, etc.) The tenant must protect all carpeting from odor infestation, and stain by cleaning it annually. The Landlord reserves the right to inspect the lease premises(while providing proper notice) periodically in order to assess any possible damages.

Continual reports of excessive animal noise (such as dog barking) will be grounds for the Landlords withdrawal of permission, after which the tenant will have to remove the pet(s) from the premises immediately. Pet owners must ensure the proper disposal of a deceased animal according to local regulations. Burial of a deceased pet on the property grounds is strictly prohibited. When outdoors, all pets must be on a leash and under the control of a mature and responsible individual. Pets may not be tethered or left unattended outside at any time.

The Tenant agrees to clean and properly dispose of all pet waste, both inside and outside the rental property, on a daily basis. No excrement is to remain on the grounds. The Tenant MUST store all food related to the animal in a heavy duty storage container to prevent the attraction of mice or other pests. 

Tenant WILL:

• Keep each animal indoors, on a leash, or under their supervision at all times. In the event an animal is found outside the premises unattended or unleashed, at Landlord’s sole discretion Landlord may contact animal control. Resident agrees to pay the cost of temporary caretaking.
• Pick up feces, pellets, vomit, or other excrement immediately and dispose of it in sealed plastic bags in the trash. 
• If using kitty litter, ensure that litterboxes are adequately numerous and regularly cleaned.
• Feed each animal and attend to its needs, including behavioral enrichment, as a responsible owner.
• Pay for obedience or other training if necessary to ensure compliance with these rules.
• Pay for all recommended medical care, including vaccinations.
• Make arrangements to temporarily remove, restrain or crate each animal during announced entry of the premises by Landlord or their agent.
• Ensure that each cage, aquarium or other contained habitat, if applicable, is sized appropriately for the species, animal age and size, and count of animal occupants.

Tenant Will NOT:

• Torment or perpetrate any act of cruelty or illegality on any animal, or permit anyone else to do so. No fighting.
• Permit any animal to disturb any other resident of the property, any neighbor, the Landlord or their agent, or any other person. Dogs that bark so as to be heard in other units must be trained to stop on command and must be told to stop. 
• Tie any animal to an object on the property such that its leash would cross a walkway or egress, including any handrails, walkways, stairs, stairwells, gates, or doors.
• Permit any animal to excrete on any patio area, walkway, stair, floor, parking lot, or other artificial surface. In the event of failure to comply with this rule, Resident agrees to be financially responsible for the cleaning or removal of any excrement.
• Leave feces, pellets, vomit, or other excrement to pick up “later.”
• Flush plastic bags of feces, pellets, vomit, or other excrement. So-called “flushable litter” is really not flushable for these premises; do not flush “flushable litter.”
• Place litterboxes, pee pads, or other containment devices in common areas.
• Permit an animal that is not housebroken to travel freely over unprotected interior surfaces.
• Keep animal offspring on the premises (fish excepted). Offspring must be put up for adoption. The premises are not to be used for animal breeding.
• Adopt strays.
• Reconfigure the premises or common area to accommodate any animal, including removing cabinet doors, adding chicken wire, or building partition walls.
• Permit animal food to splash, scatter, or exist unattended and unsealed, especially not rodent food or live food, especially not overnight.
• Permit an animal to enter unsealed interior common areas (e.g., basement) where it could become trapped in walls or other areas not intended for occupancy.
• Flush, euthanize, slaughter, or dispatch any animal on the premises or in the common area (see cruelty, above) except if attended to by the licensed veterinarian below. The premises are not a farm. Seek appropriate veterinary care for end-of-life scenarios.

Tenant indemnifies Landlord for all liability for personal injury caused by any animal, including court fees and attorney’s fees. Tenant agrees to secure adequate insurance coverage. 

Additional deposits for pets, service and/or support animals will not be accepted. Pet rent is not accepted for service or support animals. Pet rent will be applied to pets starting on the second month of tenancy. Pet rent will be in the amount of $ ____(X)____, to be applied in addition to the agreed upon "base" rent in the lease. The tenant's security deposit should be limited to the "base" rent and will not include the pet rent. We will not accept advanced payment of monthly pet rent.

For non-violent animal offenses (e.g. failing to properly remove animal excrement), Landlord shall adopt a “three strikes” policy. If any rule or provision of this Animal Policy is violated by Tenants, occupants, guests or invitees, Landlord shall notify the Tenant upon discovering the violation. Three violations shall be grounds for termination. Each surface damaged shall be a separate offense. A single violent offense (e.g., dog bite) shall be grounds for termination, regardless of whether Tenant has been notified by Landlord or any third party of having a dangerous animal. A single unlisted animal occupant shall be grounds for termination.

Tenant agrees that if they are unable to maintain responsibility for any animal and are unable or unwilling to locate alternate care, Landlord may at Tenants request enter the premises and remove the animal with full indemnification. Tenant expressly agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Landlord, its servants, agents, successor, and assigns for any expense including attorney’s fees incurred by Landlord in the removal and care of any animal. Landlord will place the animal in shelter.

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In accordance with the HUD memo, if the Tenants disability is obvious, no verification is necessary. However, the landlord is authorized to seek verification of a person's non-obvious disability and the “disability related need” for the animal. Any one of the following documents may be provided as verification:

• Determination of disability from a federal, state or local government agency.
• Receipt of disability benefits or services (Social Security Disability Income, Medicare or Supplemental Security Income for persons under age 65; veterans disability benefits, services from a vocational rehabilitation agency, disability benefits or services from another federal state or local agency)
• Eligibility for housing assistance or a housing voucher received because of a disability.
• A letter confirming disability from a health care professional such as a physician, optometrist, psychologist, nurse practitioner, etc.

For the Tenant’s convenience the Landlord will provide you with a verification of disability form to be filled out by a health care professional. However, you are not required to use this particular form.

The Landlord is also entitled to know:

• Service Animals: whether the service animal has been trained to deliver the required assistance.
• Support Animals: whether the animal does work, performs tasks, provides assistance or provides therapeutic emotional support related to the tenant's disability. 

The Tenant agrees to provide such documentation to the Landlord.

If the Landlord can show that the animal in question would impose an undue burden, the Landlord may still enforce the no animal policy. (For example, an emotional support elephant.)

If the Tenant violates any part of this policy, the Tenant is then in default of the lease. In the event of a default, the Landlord may initiate legal proceedings in accordance with local regulations to evict or have the tenant removed from the lease premises as well as to seek judgment against the tenant for any monies owed to the Landlord as a result of the Tenants default.

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Contact Information

For questions or concerns regarding this policy, tenants may contact the property management office at:

• Phone:      617-777-2505
• Email:      Support@TheLucasOrganization.com

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Policy Updates

This policy will be reviewed annually and updated as necessary to ensure compliance with state and federal laws and to address tenant and operational needs.

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Effective Date: 23rd day of October 2023