You probably already know this, but elderly caregiver in PA means she has federal and state child abuse and criminal clearances.

Some people have abused "the system" (or lack thereof) resulting in more difficult environments for animals who are actually working for their handler.Here's to hoping that this is the beginning of the tides changing for property owners and the beginning of the end of fraudulent ESAs and the like.See this BBC article.

HOWEVER, it also carries a high risk of abuse.

It's a start to acknowledge I have never walked in the shoes of a homeless person - I wasn't raised by my abusive uncle on the Pine Ridge reservation, I've never been a war vet suffering from PTSD, and I don't understand what its like to have down syndrome or schizophrenia. 

It may depend on how badly your tenants will abuse it.I prefer hard wood because they can be sanded and refinished at a cost <= new carpet. 

The wave of abuse by the Tenants this last two years has become intolerable for me.

No vacancy...doesn't matter if it's a month to month lease, or if the lease is midway into a year commitment.What you want is your unit occupied, What happens in peoples lives is job changes, relationship changes, and housing plays a big part.I managed a large complex, we had roommate situations all the time fall apart for residents, divorce, splits, domestic abuse (any kind relationships not just married couples).

Tenants will assume and abuse every possible article in a lease unless every single conceivable issue is spelled out in detail.

But regardless they will abuse your unit.

Automatic Rejection: Your application will be automatically rejected for any of the following:a) Eviction by a prior landlord in the last 24 months;b) Outstanding debt or unpaid damages to a previous landlord;c) Undisclosed criminal record, felony or misdemeanor;d) Being registered as a sex offender;e) Conviction of possession or distribution of a controlled substance;f) Conviction of spousal abuse or violent crime;g) Currently pending the outcome of a felony or misdemeanor charge;h) Bankruptcy in the past 5 years that has not been discharged/released;i) Invalid social security number;j) Outstanding federal tax lien, the repayment terms for which are not current;k) False information on your application;l) Incomplete application, including applicant signature on all pages of the application and this form;m) Failure to pay the application fee at the time of application submittal.