According to HUD, a reasonable accommodation is a change, exception, or adjustment to a rule, policy, practice, or service that may be necessary for a person with a disability to have an equal opportunity to use and enjoy a dwelling, including public and common use spaces. This includes requests from tenants with disabilities to have their animals recognized as Emotional Support Animals (ESAs) or Service Animals on their property.
When such requests are made, residents seek a reasonable accommodation to be exempt from pet-related restrictions. This accommodation typically waives certain fees and restrictions associated with pets, thereby allowing the individual equal access to housing. Housing providers are entitled to verify information from the resident's healthcare professional to confirm the disability-related need for an assistance animal. This verification process aids in determining eligibility for reasonable accommodation.
Please note that the OurPetPolicy verification process for confirming disability-related needs does NOT involve asking about the specific nature of the disability.
For any additional questions or assistance regarding our verification process, please check out these resources or contact our support team at support@ourpetpolicy.com.