Topic: Emotional Support/Comfort Animals-What do you require?

I am interested to hear on what other properties require for the approval of a emotional support/comfort animal. In regards to a comfort animal/emotional support animal do you simply accept a note from a doctor or does your company have specific paperwork required to be completed?

Our company requires the resident submit a Request for Reasonable Accommodation. The form we use provides for third-party verification, in the event the resident's disability is not obvious. If a resident brings in the letter first, we ask them to fill out the form so that we document adherence to policy as much as possible.

There have been occasions when the resident was not able to fill out the form (due to physical disability or inability to read), and they are allowed to simply bring in a letter from a care provider.

I will be addressing this issue in my April webinar here on Multifamily Insiders. Amanda, your company is doing a good job dealing with request for reasonable accommodations. Just a mention: the resident/applicant can make a verbal request, and if unable to fill out a form, the office staff can document the request. Also I recommend that the staff have a form to send to the third party to fill out. An example for the form: "for legal reasons, in signing this form you agree that all the information provided is true / factual" This helps keep friends/long time health care providers who feel that they have no 'skin in game' from sending a document/statement as a favor, wink wink!
An even bigger issue is residents/prospects buying a "service animal certificate' off the internet. I will save that one for April 20 webinar.

I would like to hear also from rental communities. My partner teaches Fair Housing and I would love to know
how you all handle this question. At this point it varies. Some don't require any further information other than
what the government wants.

We require a verification form to be completed; this form is in compliance with HUD guidelines that states: "provide documentation from a physician, psychiatrist, social worker, or other mental
health professional that the animal provides emotional support that alleviates one or more of the
identified symptoms or effects of an existing disability. Such documentation is sufficient if it
establishes that an individual has a disability and that the animal in question will provide some
type of disability-related assistance or emotional support". This form is only required when the disability is not readily apparent.

By the way....some more liberal parties/states will take documentation from Weight Watchers and yoga instructors. I am now saying 'health care providers'

The National Apartment Association (NAA) has a great working group tackling this problem. Soon, there will be standard forms and even a script to use when dealing with this problem. Watch for upcoming news from NAA.