Articles — assistance animal

The Visiting Assistance Animal

Posted by Stephen Marshall on

The Visiting Assistance Animal

THE STORY Bailey is the property manager of The Colosseum, a 250-unit luxury complex. The Colosseum allows its residents to own pets, but has a list of restricted breeds that includes all the usual suspects: Pit Bills, Rottweilers, German Shepherds, Chows, etc. Recently, Bailey has received several complaints that a Pit Bull was on the property near the 300 Building. None of those who complained could associate the animal with any particular resident, and no one on Bailey’s staff had ever seen the dog when they investigated the complaints. One afternoon as she was walking the grounds with a member...

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The 10 Commandments for Assistance Animals

Posted by Stephen Marshall on

The 10 Commandments for Assistance Animals

Stewart is the property manager at Collins Square Apartments, a small rental community with 31 units. Collins Square allows its residents to have up to two pets. Its lease agreement requires each resident with a pet to pay an extra deposit, to follow local leash laws, to pick up after the pet and dispose of its waste, and to keep the pet from disturbing other residents or causing damage. Quinn recently signed a one-year lease at the community. At the outset, he notified the management that he had an assistance dog and provided a letter from his therapist that verified his emotional...

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My Assistance Animal's Name is Cujo

Posted by Stephen Marshall on

My Assistance Animal's Name is Cujo

In my last post, our property manager, Noah, from Stoops Pavilion had given written notice to his resident, Jennifer, that she would be allowed to have a support animal as a reasonable accommodation for her disability. Noah granted Jennifer’s request for the animal based on the letter from her therapist stating that her disability created a need for the dog in order to allow her to use and enjoy her apartment. Noah’s notice to Jennifer had asked her to come to the management office to show him the dog and to sign a lease addendum outlining the rights and obligations...

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The Hidden Disability Conundrum

Posted by Stephen Marshall on

The Hidden Disability Conundrum

                   Earlier this week, we looked at a situation involving a property manager (Holly from The Calipari Resort) who was approached by a prospective resident who requested that her support animal be exempt from the community’s no-pet policy as an accommodation for her disability. The main thing that we learned was that a tenant with a disability is entitled to such accommodations as long as the accommodation does not (1) create an undue financial or administrative burden or (2) fundamentally alter the nature of the landlord’s business.          ...

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How Treating Every Tenant the Same Can Be Discriminatory

Posted by Stephen Marshall on

How Treating Every Tenant the Same Can Be Discriminatory

                   Holly is the new property manager at a brand new luxury apartment community, The Calipari Resort. Holly’s new leasing agent is doing a fantastic job of filling the few remaining vacancies in the community. Everyone at the community seems very excited about the new rental units and amenities. One afternoon, the leasing agent asks to meet with Holly about a prospective resident. During the meeting, the prospective resident explains how excited she is to find such a wonderful community, but was told by the leasing agent that the community has a...

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