Renting With a Dog

Deposits, fees, and rent

Get every pet-related charge in writing before you sign.

Michigan limits a security deposit to one and a half months’ rent. On top of that, many landlords charge a separate non-refundable pet fee or monthly “pet rent.” None of that is automatic — it has to be in the lease. Read the pet terms closely, and make sure any deposit you can get back is clearly described as refundable.

Put the details in a pet addendum

A written pet addendum protects everyone by spelling out the specifics: which pet (breed, weight, name), how many, deposits and fees, rules about waste and noise, and what happens if there’s damage or a complaint. If your landlord approves your dog verbally, ask to get it added to the lease in writing — a casual “sure, that’s fine” is hard to enforce later.

Assistance animals are not “pets”

Service animals and emotional-support animals are treated differently under fair-housing rules. A landlord generally cannot charge pet fees or deposits for a qualified assistance animal, and typical breed or size limits usually don’t apply. Landlords can still ask for appropriate documentation in many cases, and the animal’s owner remains responsible for any damage or injury it causes.

Who’s liable if the dog bites?

Under Michigan’s strict-liability law (MCL 287.351), the dog’s owner — usually the tenant — is responsible for a bite. A landlord can sometimes also share responsibility if they knew a specific dog on the property was dangerous and did nothing about it. If you’ve been bitten by a tenant’s dog, both the tenant’s and the landlord’s insurance may be worth investigating.

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