by Barker Realty, Inc. | Jan 19, 2019 | Property Management Blog, Raleigh Property Management, Tenant Management, Tips for Landlords
Even if your rental property doesn’t allow pets, service animals are not considered pets, and therefore do not fall under any lease’s jurisdictions. But since service animals aren’t legally required to wear identification vests, upholding and enforcing accommodation laws can be a bit tricky. Here’s what you need to know when it comes to having service and companion animals on your property.
What is a disability? What is a service dog?
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) classifies a “disability” as a condition in which a physical or mental impairment affects the quality of an individual’s life. According to the ADA, a service animal is a dog (not any other animal) that is trained to perform tasks for a disabled person. Importantly, the dog must be trained to take a specific action to assist its owner; for example, alerting a diabetic that his or her blood sugar levels are too low. People with disabilities have the right to train their animal themselves and are not required to use a professional service dog training program.
Service dog or emotional support animal?
The key to identifying a service animal is noting whether or not it takes any specific actions to help its handler. If a dog has been trained to sense an anxiety attack and takes a specific action to help its handler avoid or lessen its impact, that would qualify it as a service animal. However, if the dog provides comfort due to its mere presence, it is considered a therapy or emotional support animal and is not protected by the ADA.
Rules and regulations for service dogs
Again, a service dog is not required to wear an identifying vest. However, it is required to have a harness or leash. If the handler is physically unable to hold a tether, or if a tether would interfere with the animal’s tasks, the animal must be under the handler’s control through voice commands or hand signals.
More landlord questions? Call Barker Realty
When complying with state and federal regulations regarding service animals, landlords have the right to ask questions and enforce their “no pet” policies. Hopefully, these tips will help you be fully ADA compliant. If you have other property management questions, contact Barker Realty or our sister company, Barker Property Maintenance.
by Barker Realty, Inc. | Oct 4, 2018 | Property Selection, Raleigh Investment Property, Raleigh Property Management, Tips for Property Investors
It’s time to invest in Raleigh real estate
Raleigh is a booming city that offers numerous amenities and business opportunities to its residents. In fact, Forbes recently named it one of the best places in the country to start a career. Here’s why now’s the best time to start planning your move to Raleigh, or even invest in some Raleigh real estate!
Business is booming
As the economy improves, the price of Raleigh real estate has increased drastically, as has the pricing in the surrounding towns and cities like Cary, Apex, Holly Springs, Durham, Chapel Hill, and Wake Forest. Even though the cost of living has substantially increased, however, it’s still relatively affordable when compared to other major cities in the United States. Since the property values are likely to continue increasing, now’s the perfect time to buy a Raleigh home or apartment, in order to reap big benefits later.
Why you should raise your family in Raleigh
Not only does Raleigh have great business opportunities, but it’s also a great place to raise a family. Many of the schools in the city and surrounding towns are nationally-ranked, and there are plenty of public and private options to choose from. In addition, the abundance of parks, trails, museums, historical attractions, and shopping centers means there’s plenty of things to do for everyone. Raleigh’s robust infrastructure and continued improvements and additions to roads and highways make it easy to navigate.
How to locate the right investment property
There’s only one downside to Raleigh’s increasing popularity–the real estate market is extremely competitive. According to state data, Wake County is growing around a net of 63 people per day, and every day, thousands of people search for homes. Anyone who wants to purchase real estate in Raleigh or the surrounding markets must be prepared to act quickly and come in with a strong offer–and an experienced Raleigh property management company like Barker Realty can help. Contact us today for more information concerning trends in the real estate market and strategies that will help you find your perfect property for a fair price.
