[nagdu] Tenant Rights

Mon Mar 9 16:50:16 UTC 2009

JMO, I would rather tell the person up front and deal with any problems 
before getting there rather than showing up with my guide dog and being 
turned away. Definitely don't let this one go, though. They need to know 
that this is not acceptable.  Your guide dog is not just some pet; it's a 
mobility aide.
Interesting how sometimes guide dogs attract people while at other times 
they cause people to turn away. I wonder how the apartment owners would have 
responded if you had told them that you were blind, but not mentioned the 
dog.

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Julie J." <jlcrane at alltel.net>
To: "NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users" 
<nagdu at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Monday, March 09, 2009 5:57 AM
Subject: Re: [nagdu] Tenant Rights

Heather,

This is most definitely allowed on this list!  I'm glad you asked for help
with this.  I hope Marion will be able to assist you in getting it
straightened out.

Have you thought about not mentioning that you have a guide dog in advance?
Here, in the U.S., we are not required to notify a business in advance of
our disability or guide dog.  It doesn't eliminate problems, but at least I
can deal with them in person. *smile*

I hope you find the perfect apartment very soon, best of luck!
Julie

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Heather Hutchison" <heather at heather-hutchison.com>
To: <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Saturday, March 07, 2009 5:24 PM
Subject: [nagdu] Tenant Rights

> Hi all,
>
> My apologies if this isn't allowed because I live in British Columbia,
> Canada, but I was wondering if I could get some general input on what  to
> do about being discriminated against due to the presence of my  guide dog
> in applying for a rental unit.
>
> An acquaintance of my boyfriend was moving out of her apartment and we
> decided it would be a great area and a perfect place for us to live  in,
> so we contacted the landlords (a husband and wife) to set up a  viewing
> (we've seen the place before, but to do it officially). She  set up a time
> the next morning for us to come and view the suite. My  boyfriend
> mentioned the fact that I have a guide dog (not as a  question of if it
> would be alright, but simply to state a fact) and  everything changed. She
> said she would have to check with her husband  and quickly hung up. She
> called back and left a message specifically  stating that because there
> was another dog on the premises (these are  completely separate units
> though) that because of my dog, we would not  be considered to rent the
> suite. We have kept this message. We called  her to try and explain the
> law (the guide animal act of British  Columbia states that it is illegal
> to discriminate against a person  with a disability because of their
> intent to keep a service animal in  the rental unit unless sleeping,
> cooking or bathroom facilities are  shared) but she would not listen. She
> put her husband on the phone and  he proceeded to be incredibly rude,
> screaming that they did not have  to accept a guide dog, essentially that
> the law was wrong. He said  they weren't even having viewings (which is
> incorrect because we had  previously had an appointment for that same day
> until they found out  about my dog). He then said we could come look at it
> if we really  wanted but that we wouldn't get it anyways. He said they
> were being  threatened when we said we would take legal action. One last
> time we  tried to read him the act, but he hung up in the middle of it.
>
> What should I do? I am having a very difficult time finding a place to
> live (I've heard every excuse in the book) and I'm tired of people
> blatantly ignoring the law. It is very difficult to find pet friendly
> suites in Vancouver and they are almost impossible to get into because
> they are in such high demand. I filled out a human rights complaint  but
> have not sent it yet. Anything else I should do? Should I pursue  this?
>
> Thank you very much in advance for any input you might have.
>
> Heather with Bibby
>
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