Yardi Voyager is one of the most widely deployed property management platforms in the United States, used by large apartment operators, REITs, and institutional landlords managing thousands of units. Tenants at these properties frequently encounter Yardi-generated invoices for pet deposits, monthly pet rent, and pet screening fees. Not all of these charges are legally permissible in every circumstance. This guide explains the legal framework tenants should understand before paying.
Yardi Voyager allows landlords to configure recurring charges at the lease level. Pet rent — a monthly fee charged in addition to base rent for having an animal — is a common configuration. So are one-time pet deposits (refundable or non-refundable) and administrative fees tied to pet applications or third-party screening services.
These charges appear on Yardi-generated ledgers and lease addenda as if they are standard line items, which can obscure their legal status for tenants unfamiliar with fair housing law. The platform is a billing tool; it does not determine legality. A charge that appears on a Yardi invoice is not automatically lawful.
The Fair Housing Act, codified at 42 U.S.C. §§ 3601–3619, prohibits discrimination in the sale or rental of housing on the basis of disability. Section 3604(f)(3)(B) specifically requires housing providers to make reasonable accommodations in "rules, policies, practices, or procedures" when necessary for a person with a disability to have equal housing opportunity.
An emotional support animal (ESA) is a recognized form of reasonable accommodation under the FHA. When a tenant has a disability and a healthcare provider has determined that the animal provides disability-related support, the tenant may request that standard pet policies — including pet fees, pet rent, and pet deposits — be waived. The landlord's obligation to waive these fees flows from federal law, not from the tenant's preferences or negotiating leverage.
HUD's 2020 guidance memorandum FHEO-2020-01 ("Assisting Persons with Disabilities") reinforces this framework. It states that housing providers "may not charge a pet deposit" for an assistance animal, including an ESA. This prohibition applies regardless of how the fee is labeled on a Yardi ledger.
Landlords may charge for actual damage caused by an assistance animal after the tenant vacates. This is not a pet deposit in the traditional sense — it is damage recovery, subject to the same procedures and limitations as any security deposit claim. Under most state landlord-tenant laws, this requires an itemized statement and documentation of the actual damage.
Landlords may not charge:
— A pet deposit (refundable or non-refundable) for an approved ESA
— Monthly pet rent for an approved ESA
— A fee to submit or process an ESA accommodation request
— A fee to have the ESA screened by a third-party platform as a condition of accommodation
These prohibitions apply to federally covered housing. The FHA covers most rental housing in the United States, with limited exceptions for owner-occupied buildings with four or fewer units and certain housing operated by religious organizations (42 U.S.C. § 3603).
If a landlord has charged — or is threatening to charge — pet fees in connection with an approved or pending ESA accommodation request, tenants have several options.
Document everything. Keep copies of your ESA accommodation request letter, your healthcare provider's supporting documentation, and all Yardi-generated invoices or ledger statements. If charges appear on your ledger after you submitted an accommodation request, screenshot the ledger with dates visible.
Write a formal objection. Submit a written request — email is sufficient and creates a timestamp — stating that the charges are improper under 42 U.S.C. § 3604(f) and HUD FHEO-2020-01, and requesting their removal. This letter serves as evidence if the dispute escalates.
File a HUD complaint. HUD's Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity accepts complaints online at hud.gov/fairhousing. Complaints must be filed within one year of the discriminatory act. HUD investigation is free, and complainants may also pursue private litigation under 42 U.S.C. § 3613.
State fair housing agencies in California, New York, Illinois, and other states also accept complaints and may offer broader protections than federal law in some circumstances. Consulting a fair housing attorney or legal aid organization can help tenants navigate the specific facts of their case.
TenantPetRights.org is an independent educational resource. Not a law firm. Not legal advice. Consult a licensed attorney for your specific situation.