NO PETS!!

You're out searching for an apartment for you and Lucky, your little mutt.  It seems like everywhere you go, the Landlord tells you that you are ineligible because you have a dog, or the signs say "NO PETS".  You have to make a choice: live in a place that you don't like or get rid of Lucky.  It's that simple.  Or is it?

The Tenant Protection Act does not generally restrict a Landlord's right to choose who will be its tenants.  Nor should it, as it would be unreasonable to force a Landlord to rent to a particular person.  The Act does, however, protect people once they become tenants. In general, a Landlord cannot evict you because you have pets.  Even if your lease or agreement has a provision that says "No Pets" and you've signed it, the Landlord still can't evict you if you have a pet.  "No Pet" provisions are void.

The only way you can be evicted for having a pet is if the pet disturbs or causes an allergic reaction to the Landlord or other tenants, the pet damages the premises, or if the pet endangers the safety of other tenants (for example, a boa constrictor). Of course, this is helpful once you are in the apartment, but you and Lucky need an apartment. So how do we solve that problem?  The easy answer is: don't take Lucky with you when you shop for apartments. 

But what if the Landlord asks if you have a pet?  This is where you are faced with a moral dilemma.  If you tell the Landlord you have a pet, you will not be accepted for the apartment.  If you lie, you have a chance...

Look at it this way.  The policy of the Act is that pets cannot be disallowed unless they're harmful.  But the Act can only enforce this policy once you are in.  Some Landlords try to get around this by finding out about possible pets before you get in.  It is impossible to try to prohibit Landlords from asking questions.  It is, however, your decision as to whether you want to allow the Landlord to get around the policy of the Act.

This is not to recommend lying as a way of achieving your goals.  It seems necessary, though, if you want to get admitted to some apartments whose Landlords are attempting to enforce illegal rules. How unfortunate.