Are landlords allowed to charge pet deposits or fees in violation of Fair Housing Law?

In Virginia, landlords are not allowed to charge pet deposits or fees that are in violation of Fair Housing Law. This law states that landlords cannot charge any deposits, fees, or surcharges that are not allowed by state and federal law. This includes any type of pet deposit, pet fee, or pet surcharge. This means that landlords cannot charge a pet deposit or pet fee that is any more than a standard security deposit. The landlord also cannot refuse to rent to a tenant simply because they have a pet. The only exception to this law is if the landlord can prove that there has been past damage caused by pets. In this case, the landlord can charge a reasonable pet deposit that is equal to the cost of replacing any damaged property. The pet deposit cannot be more than the cost of the repairs that were done. In summary, Fair Housing Law in Virginia allows landlords to charge a pet deposit or pet fees only if the landlord can prove that there has been past damage by pets. Any pet deposits or fees must be equal to the cost of repairing any damaged property. Otherwise, the landlord is not allowed to charge any pet deposits or fees in violation of Fair Housing Law.

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Are landlords allowed to charge pet deposits or fees in violation of Fair Housing Law?

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