[NAGDU] Housing bill pertaining to Service animals

Mon Feb 19 19:06:16 UTC 2024

I’m a landlord as well and per federal law you can only ask 2 questions if they say it’s a service animal. We all know those 2 questions all too well. However I run into people saying they have a “service animal” when in reality it’s an ESA, which don’t have the same rights however we still cannot charge for them and in being a landlord ESAs tend to cause damage cuz any pet can be deemed an ESA with a dr letter. It’s ridiculous because it makes real service animals look bad! I was at Disney last month and it was 8 PM at night and I was headed into Disney Springs with my guide and the security guard stopped me and said my guide was the first legit service animal he had seen all day and it was 8 PM!!!!

Jackie

> On Feb 19, 2024, at 1:42 PM, Cindy Ray via NAGDU <nagdu at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> 
> Fair housing is lumping, all of the service animals and emotional support animals together as assistance animals, thus, according to that law,the legislature does have n  argument for the  bill. We have to find a way to educate them that this isn’t appropriatnmme.NFair housing is lumping, all of the service, animals and emotional support animals together as assistance animals, thus, according to that bill, the legislature does have a place where they could write such a bill. We have to find a way to educate them that this isn’t appropriate.
> Cindy Lou Ray
> Sent from my iPhone
> 
>> On Feb 19, 2024, at 12:31 PM, rebecca.young1264--- via NAGDU <nagdu at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>> 
>> Hello, ESA, stands for emotional support animal. I do know that they are allowed in housing. But they are technically not the same as a service, dog or animal. A true service dog, as you probably know is a working dog.
>> Cell 5155539270
>> Email rebecca.young1264 at outlook.com
>> Becky and guide dog Karma
>> 
>> 
>>>> On Feb 19, 2024, at 12:18 PM, marianne denning via NAGDU <nagdu at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>>> 
>>> Here is the information from Fair Housing.
>>> What Is an Assistance Animal?
>>> An assistance animal is an animal that works, provides assistance, or
>>> performs tasks for the benefit of a person with a disability, or that
>>> provides emotional support that alleviates one or more identified effects of
>>> a person's disability. An assistance animal is not a pet.
>>> 
>>> Obligations of Housing Providers
>>> Individuals with a disability may request to keep an assistance animal as a
>>> reasonable accommodation to a housing provider's pet restrictions.
>>> 
>>> Housing providers cannot refuse to make reasonable accommodations in rules,
>>> policies, practices, or services when such accommodations may be necessary
>>> to afford a person with a disability the equal opportunity to use and enjoy
>>> a dwelling.
>>> 
>>> The Fair Housing Act requires a housing provider to allow a reasonable
>>> accommodation involving an assistance animal in situations that meet all the
>>> following conditions:
>>> 
>>> A request was made to the housing provider by or for a person with a
>>> disability
>>> The request was supported by reliable disability-related information, if the
>>> disability and the disability-related need for the animal were not apparent
>>> and the housing provider requested such information, and
>>> The housing provider has not demonstrated that:
>>> Granting the request would impose an undue financial and administrative
>>> burden on the housing provider
>>> The request would fundamentally alter the essential nature of the housing
>>> provider's operations
>>> The specific assistance animal in question would pose a direct threat to the
>>> health or safety of others despite any other reasonable accommodations that
>>> could eliminate or reduce the threat
>>> The request would result in significant physical damage to the property of
>>> others despite any other reasonable accommodations that could eliminate or
>>> reduce the physical damage.
>>> Examples
>>> A reasonable accommodation request for an assistance animal may include, for
>>> example:
>>> 
>>> A request to live with an assistance animal at a property where a housing
>>> provider has a no-pets policy or
>>> A request to waive a pet deposit, fee, or other rule as to an assistance
>>> animal.
>>> Filing a Complaint
>>> If you believe you have been unlawfully denied a reasonable accommodation
>>> for an assistance animal or have otherwise experienced discrimination in
>>> housing, you can file a complaint
>>> 
>>> Here is the link where I found this information.
>>> https://www.hud.gov/program_offices/fair_housing_equal_opp/assistance_animal
>>> s
>>> -----Original Message-----
>>> From: NAGDU <nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of Cindy Ray via NAGDU
>>> Sent: Monday, February 19, 2024 10:39 AM
>>> To: nagdu at nfbnet.org
>>> Cc: Cindy Ray <cindyray at gmail.com>; NAGDU <board at nagdu.org>
>>> Subject: [NAGDU] Housing bill pertaining to Service animals
>>> 
>>> The Iowa Senate is debating a bill pertaining to the right of landlords to
>>> refuse accommodation to people with service animals if it would cost too
>>> much to pay for any property damage. A person would basically have to have a
>>> prescription from a doctor, and they would have to be authorized annually.
>>> They say this is in line with Federal law. Really!
>>> Cindy Lou Ray
>>> Sent from my iPhone
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