Essential Tips for Landlords: Providing Accommodations for Service Animals

As a landlord, it's essential to understand the laws surrounding service animals and your responsibilities towards tenants with disabilities. In this article, we'll explore the must-knows for landlords when it comes to providing accommodations for service animals.

What is a Service Animal?

A service animal is a dog that has been trained to perform tasks for a person with a disability. These animals are often used by individuals with disabilities to assist with daily living tasks, such as guiding the blind, alerting the deaf, or performing other tasks that the individual is unable to perform.

What are the Laws Surrounding Service Animals?

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Fair Housing Act (FHA) both provide protections for individuals with disabilities, including those who use service animals. Under these laws, landlords are required to make reasonable accommodations for tenants with disabilities, including providing accommodations for service animals.

What are the Responsibilities of Landlords?

As a landlord, you have several responsibilities when it comes to providing accommodations for service animals. These include:

• Allowing service animals to accompany individuals with disabilities in all areas of the property, including common areas and rental units.
• Providing reasonable accommodations for service animals, such as providing a designated area for the animal to relieve itself or providing a ramp for the animal to access the property.
• Not discriminating against individuals with disabilities who use service animals, including refusing to rent to them or evicting them due to their use of a service animal.

What are the Consequences of Not Providing Accommodations for Service Animals?

If you fail to provide accommodations for service animals, you may be subject to legal consequences, including:

• Fines and penalties.
• Lawsuits and legal action.
• Damage to your reputation and business.

How to Provide Accommodations for Service Animals?

Providing accommodations for service animals is relatively straightforward. Here are some tips to help you get started:

• Communicate with your tenant: Talk to your tenant about their service animal and what accommodations they need.
• Provide a designated area for the animal: Designate a specific area for the service animal to relieve itself, such as a backyard or a designated area in the rental unit.
• Provide a ramp or other accommodations: If the service animal needs a ramp or other accommodations to access the property, provide one.
• Keep records: Keep records of any accommodations you provide for service animals, including any communications with your tenant.

Conclusion

Providing accommodations for service animals is a critical part of being a landlord. By understanding your responsibilities and providing reasonable accommodations, you can ensure that your tenants with disabilities are able to live comfortably and independently. Remember to communicate with your tenants, provide a designated area for the animal, and keep records of any accommodations you provide.