HUD Issues New Service Animal Guidance

[Nathan Gesner]

HUD issued a new notice regarding service animals and reasonable accommodations under the Fair Housing Act.

CLICK HERE for the official announcement from HUD

This guide provides housing providers with a set of best practices for complying with the FHA when assessing requests for reasonable accommodations to keep animals in housing. It is split into two parts:

1. Assessing a person's request to have an Assistance Animal
2. Guidance on documenting an individuals Need for Assistance Animals in Housing

I personally think it's full of legalese that does little to prevent fraud. It's better, but still full of holes.

READ THIS article from REALTOR Magazine to get a quick summary.

What are your thoughts?

[John Underwood]

The best advice I have received on a emotional support animal is to make your tenant go to petscreening.com to validate the real need for the animal.

They have to get a licensed Dr or therapist to submit documentation for them to review.

I just had someone apply to one of my houses and they gave me one of those internet certifications. So I told them I would charge them a pet fee but once they completed the screening for their animal I would refund them the fee.