Service/ESA Animal in New Jersey

[Andy S.]

I came to realize that for service animals or ESAs the NJ/Federal law does not permit charging any deposit or rent. However putting my landlord hat on, I see this as a nuisance to a landlord. An animal is animal and is going to scratch flooring, create mess etc in the rental. In that case, how do I protect my rental investment against damages caused by such kind of animals? What do other landlords do to mitigate this risk?

Thanks in advance for the guidance