Pets
Your landlord can include a “no pets” clause in your rental agreement. Your landlord can also limit the type or size of a pet allowed in a rental unit. If you sign a rental agreement with a “no pets” clause, you cannot have a pet in your rental unit. If you get a pet despite this agreement, you could be evicted.
Your landlord cannot invade your privacy to see if you have a pet. This could interfere with your right to quiet enjoyment. However, your landlord has the right to inspect your rental unit after 24 hours written notice.
Your landlord cannot change the terms of the rental agreement during your rental without permission from the Rental Office. If your landlord initially allows you to have a pet in your rental unit, they must continue to allow this throughout your rental.
Your landlord can evict you for damage caused by your pet that is beyond normal wear and tear.
See Evictions for more information.
Pet Deposits
“Pet deposits” are not legal. The security deposit cannot be more than one month’s rent. A landlord cannot ask for additional money as a pet deposit. If you paid more than a security deposit equivalent to one month’s rent, you can apply to have money returned to you.
See Security Deposits for more information.
Tips for Finding Rentals with Pets
It can be difficult to find housing that allows pets. You may want to give references from past landlords and your veterinarian. Your past landlord could write about how well-behaved your pet is and the cleanliness of your rental unit in a reference letter. Your veterinarian could talk about the vaccinations and checkup schedule your pet follows.
Human Rights and Service Animals
A landlord cannot refuse to rent to you because you have a service animal. A service animal is trained to assist a person with a disability. The work performed by your service animal must be directly related to your disability.
There is no standard identification or certification process for services animals on Prince Edward Island. It is important to let your potential landlord know if you use a service animal.
Your landlord may have questions for you about your service animal. Your landlord can ask things like:
- Is the animal assisting you with a disability?
- What assistance has the animal been trained to provide related to your disability?
Your landlord should not ask questions about your disability. They should not require the service animal to demonstrate tasks they would normally help you with.
Not all animals are protected by the Human Rights Act. Animals that provide comfort and companionship but are not trained to assist with your disability are not considered to be service animals.
If you believe you have been discriminated against for having a service animal, you should contact the PEI Human Rights Commission. They can be reached at 902-368-4180 or http://peihumanrights.ca/.