Understanding The Fair Housing Act and Assistance Animals
The Fair Housing Act is a federal statute that protects renters against discrimination when searching for housing. A disability is defined as a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits a person's major life activities under the Fair Housing Act. Even if a contract states "no pets" or bans pets, landlords must provide a "reasonable accommodation" to enable pets that function as service animals, such as those that provide emotional support. The right HUD training Los Angeles can give you better insight into the subject. Assistance animals fall under a distinct legal classification than nonassistance animals, which is why they are exempt from pet restrictions and costs. They are animals that assist, perform, and/or work for the benefit of a person with a disability, or provide emotional support to alleviate disability symptoms. Assistance animals have no official accreditation or training, but service animals do. Assistance and service animals are exempt from breed and weight limitations. The fact that landlords and public housing agencies frequently use the phrase "service animal" to refer to both service dogs and assistance animals often causes confusion. Explore Some Examples of Assistance Animals A cat that can detect and warn their owner of impending seizures. A dog that alleviates a person who is depressed or anxious. A cat that helps people cope with stress-related suffering.
When someone comes to the door, a bird informs their hard-of-hearing buddy. Proving that Your Pet is a Service Animal You should provide your landlord with a letter from your doctor or therapist stating that you have a disability and outlining how your pet is needed to help you cope with and/or improve your condition. Include a brief personal statement explaining to the landlord that you are requesting "fair accommodations to keep your assistance support animal." When Your Landlord Denies Your Request If the disability claim is valid and the request does not create a burden for the landlord or other tenants, landlords must accept the reasonable accommodation request. If the landlord refuses your request for a reasonable accommodation, you have the right to ask a government agency to investigate your claim that the landlord is discriminating against you. Your Options to File a Complaint: You can register a discrimination complaint and submit it to a physical HUD location or ) electronically. You can learn more about this process through the HUD website. A HUD Discrimination Form can be printed and completed, then mailed to the proper HUD office. Discrimination accusations are investigated by a government agency in many states. You can also submit a complaint with the agency in charge in your state. The Fair Housing Act Applies to Housing The FHA covers all types of housing, including public housing, with the exception of:
1. Rental dwellings with four or fewer units, where one unit is occupied by the owner. 2. Single family homes sold or rented by the owner without the use of a broker. 3. Housing owned by private clubs or religious organizations that restrict occupancy to their members. Fees for Pets Because service and assistance animals are not classified as pets, their owners are not required to pay pet fees. The landlord, on the other hand, can require a security deposit and may still seek payment from the tenant if the animal causes damage to the property. In addition, if the assistance animal is causing issues the landlord has the legal authority to try to have it removed. So, if you are looking for the right solutions, then you should listen to our webinars related to Innovative affordable housing solutions.
Contact Us E3 Housing Solutions Address: 2600 Wilshire Blvd, 5th Floor Los Angeles, CA 90057 Phone- (844) 729-7944 Website: https://e3housing.com/