Owners Survey, about 70% of U.S. households own pets, up from 67% in the 2019-20 survey. As pet ownership increases, apartment dwellers may face the challenges of finding pet-friendly housing. Apartment leases often come...more
We have received an increasing number of questions about service animals — and most recently — an inquiry about miniature horses. While the statutory definition of "service animal" under Title III of the Americans with...more
With the surge of return to work policies cropping up through out the US, we have received an uptick of landlord inquiries about pets and animals in leased spaces. While it is a landlord's prerogative to prohibit pets in...more
This is the second blog post in our new series on Assistance Animals, Service Animals, and Emotional Support Animals. See the first post here. Stay tuned in the coming weeks for blog posts addressing unique questions and...more
In the last few years, employers, education institutions, and places of public accommodation (e.g., airports, grocery stores, and hotels) have seen an increase in individuals who want to bring their Assistance Animal, Service...more
Laws regarding service and emotional support animals can be confusing to property owners—and guidance can vary depending upon the type of animal and its function. For example, recently, the Department of Housing and Urban...more
A recent Bill, A2354, introduced in February of this year by New Jersey legislators should be on the forefront of any New Jersey animal owner’s mind. The Bill proposes amendments, bolstering existing animal cruelty statute...more
Recently, the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) filed a charge of discrimination claiming (Charge) claiming Missouri landlord Dahms Investments, L.L.C. (Dahms) violated the FHA by requiring a prospective...more
On July 14, 2020, Missouri Governor Mike Parson signed Senate Bill (SB) 644, increasing the potential penalties imposed on Missourians and visitors who attempt to pass off their pets as bona fide service dogs. While Missouri...more
A handful of helpful reminders today in response to questions sent in by blog readers: 1. If you are going to draft community rules and policies (indeed, a best practice in my view) please remember not to single out...more
The United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), on Jan. 28, issued new guidance on requests for reasonable accommodation under the Fair Housing Act (FHA) relative to “assistance animals” in various...more
Your humble Fair Housing Defense blog editor appreciated hearing from a number of you concerning the new HUD guidance addressing reasonable accommodation requests for animals under the Fair Housing Act (FHA). In response to...more
One of the most controversial developments in air travel is the proliferation of service and support animals. While history proves that dogs can perform extremely valuable services to disabled people, the value of support...more
In another helpful development for the professional apartment management industry, last week the U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development (HUD) issued a long-awaited guidance document concerning use of an animal as a...more
Earlier this week, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) issued its new guidance, “Assessing a Person’s Request to Have an Animal as a Reasonable Accommodation under the Fair Housing Act.” In the...more
When you get a request for a service animal in school, your mind may race with concerns. What if students or staff are allergic? Is the dog going to be a distraction for other students? Where will the dog relieve itself?...more
In a statement issued at the end of last week, the U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development (HUD) announced it resolved a disability discrimination Fair Housing Act (FHA) case in California asserting that various...more
I do my level best to be evenhanded when I review emotional support animal (ESA) medical verification letters when I know they have been purchased over the internet after a short self-diagnosis questionnaire and perhaps use...more
What rights do employees of tenants or other occupants of office buildings have to bring service animals and emotional support animals into New York City office buildings? What rules and restrictions can the owners of office...more
On Wednesday, August 21, 2019, the U.S. Department of Transportation published a “Final statement of enforcement priorities regarding service animals.” 84 FR 43480-01, 2019 WL 3934886 (F.R.). Unfortunately, as several...more
A new Illinois law that will take effect on January 1, 2020, will help condominium associations and other housing providers evaluate requests for emotional support animals and other assistance animals....more
When I do fair housing training, I always say to my audience that if one of you has a question, I am willing to bet another person in the room has the same question....more
A man allegedly attacked by an emotional support animal (ESA) on a Delta Airlines flight back in 2017 has now sued the airline and the animal’s owner for negligence. The incident took place on a flight from Atlanta to San...more
A Fair Housing Defense blog reader (thanks for stopping by) asked me to give an update with respect to potential guidance from the U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development (HUD) and/or the U.S. Department of Justice...more
Dogs can bring us companionship, a sense of purpose and enhanced health. Fortunately, courts (and landlords) are increasingly recognizing that an emotional support dog may be a reasonable accommodation of a disability under...more