These days being a property manager or landlord come with many challenges, and one of the most common is managing properties where tenants have dogs. With 39% of renters owning a dog, managing pet policies has become increasing complex for property managers and landlords. Many tenants bypass pet restrictions by having their dogs approved as emotional support animals or as service animals, adding to the challenges of enforcing property guidelines.
If you require tenants with dogs to have a canine liability policy or pay additional pet-related charges, you risk potential discrimination complaints, which can result in penalties averaging between $15,000 and $20,000. Another challenge is that general liability policies often exclude canine liability, leaving landlords vulnerable to claims without proper coverage.
Several companies now offer screening services to verify the legitimacy of ESA and service dog letters, helping property managers and landlords ensure compliance with regulations. While these services may include additional offerings, they do not provide insurance coverage leaving landlords to find separate solutions for liability protections.
If a dog on your property injures a person or another animal you could be sued for allowing the dog on the premises-whether it’s an ESA, service dog, or pet. Without coverage under your general liability policy, you would pay out of pocket legal defense costs which average around $300 per hour nationwide, and any settlement and penalties.
To address this exposure, we developed the Canine Contingent Liability Policy, which covers both legal fees and settlements up to your chosen policy limit. The protection applies first dollar, regardless of any underlying coverage, providing you extra peace of mind if an incident occurs. Costs are based on your selected limit, the number of units, and responses to a brief three-page application. Quotes are provided quickly, and financing options are available.
Contact us for an application and take the next step in making an informed business decision.
About the author:
Deborah J. Turner, CPCU, AAI
President of Dean Insurance Agency, Inc. in Central Florida since 1994. She designed Canine Contingent Liability as a result of her love for dogs, her research and intimate knowledge of the insurance industry, It protects Landlords and Property Managers should a law suit be filed as the result of a dog on a property.  It closes gaps in coverage and solves the Service Dog, ESA and PTSD issues since they cannot be made to purchase insurance.
