Animal Liability for Landlords

FOR LANDLORDS WHO ALLOW PETS

Do you allow your tenants to have dogs or other animals? Do you allow any breed of dog or animal in your rented home? Did you know animal liability is not covered on all policies and that certain breeds of animals may be excluded from your policy? If you allow cats, dogs, birds, lizards, snakes, etc. in your rented home, you may want to find out. XINSURANCE can offer animal liability for landlords and provide coverage for any animal your tenants may call family. If their animal injures a guest, that may put your assets on the line. Are you covered properly? Contact us today for more information.

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Questions to consider:

When is the landlord liable for a dog bite or other injury caused by the tenant's pet?

Each state has different laws, however, a landlord could be held accountable if they (1) knew the dog was dangerous, (2) have the ability to remove the animal, or (3) harbored or kept the tenant’s pet, such as, cared for or had some control over the animal.
Questions to consider:

When is the tenant liable for a dog bite or other injury caused by the tenant's pet?

In most cases, if a dog causes harm, the owner of the dog is the one who is responsible. This is particularly true if this is the first time the animal has displayed vicious behavior.
Questions to consider:

How can a landlord mitigate risks?

Get references and screen the tenant, charge a higher rent, collect a larger security deposit, evaluate personality over breed, and require that a pet be spayed or neutered.
Questions to consider:

Can I get renters insurance for pet damage or injury?

It depends on the state but probably not. Renters insurance typically excludes property damage and injury caused by an animal. Some renters insurance may include animal liability, however, they can still exclude certain breeds or deny coverage based on your pet’s bite history.
Questions to consider:

Does your pet have a bite history?

Many states consider any pet with a dog bite history of any kind as “dangerous.” Owners of such pets are required by certain states and regions to carry proper animal liability coverage.
Questions to consider:

What breeds are most commonly excluded from homeowners and renters insurance policies?

Bully breeds, Pit Bulls, Rottweilers, Doberman Pinschers, German Shepherds and Akitas. (All insurance providers cover different breeds, be sure to double check your policy.)

Know the Facts

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about 4.5 million people are bitten by dogs each year and about 885,000 require medical attention for these injuries; about half of these are children. Senior citizens are the second most common dog bite victims.

The 2014 average cost per claim was up 15 percent. The average cost paid out for dog bite claims nationwide was $32,072 in 2014, compared with $27,862 in 2013. The average cost per claim nationally has risen more than 67 percent from 2003 to 2014

*Stats from Insurance Information Institute (I.I.I.) and State Farm®

Dog bites (and other dog-related injuries) accounted for more than one-third of all homeowners insurance liability claim dollars paid out in 2015, costing in excess of $570 million.

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