Topic: Is anyone attempting to tighten up ESA policies? WOW lately it seems SUPER OUT OF CONTROL!

Is anyone attempting to tighten up policies on how you approve ESAs. I know it has been a problem but WOW lately it seems SUPER OUT OF CONTROL!
We even have people flat out say “oh I’ll just get an ESA letter”!
I’m like ummmm no….that’s not how this works?!?!
Just curious if anyone would share their approval process with me! Thanks, Caela

Take it out of the properties hand. Our regional has to approve.

Even then.....they just get approved

Yep your correct but if something happens you can't be blamed!

I personally don't care what breed the dog is.....I would accept all if I was allowed
Pet interviews and seeing the interaction with others and other dogs .....thats huge .
But follow policy until then

We just had a managers meeting today and I brought up the fact that maybe we should be doing a verification of disability at the same time we are processing a 504 request for an am I already because that’s what the residents are claiming. These accommodations are for those who are disabled. And the more thought we put into it and checking with our legal team they agreed. We also learned today that expenses incurred due to a service, companion, or emotional support animal should be counted as “write offs” like medical for both Rural Development and HUD sites (we are in Michigan). Even more reason to verify disability in my personal opinion. It has become a super huge issue at my mixed program site.

petscreening.com

Our management company does not accept letters/certificates via the Internet. They have to be local Board certified in the state that are properties are located. Also there is no certification paperwork for emotional support animals. Ever. We also asked for proof of vaccination and the dog hast to be licensed for our county

We have a form that our office sends directly to the referring doctor and the doctors office must send it back to us directly. We do not accept any letters/certificates from the resident.

Our lawyers were the ones who told us that we were able to do it this way and haven't had any issues. We've been doing it like this for years.

We use petscreening.com and take the liability off of us.

I would look into it what your state or county requires for ESA/Service animals. Some states and counties require that all service animals be registered. If that’s the case in your state then they would have to provide you with the official registration card for that pet.

Pet Screening

Pet screening!!! We have always pushed back, the folks that need them should move in with them but the bogus online letter to get around our breed restriction is not okay! Try pet screening, takes it off your team to handle the proper verifications being submitted for approval.

TAA now has additional addenda that require a medical professional's signature - I think a Dr, specifically.

I am trying to move to pet screening in the process of setting up, but now I require a letter from healthcare provider they have an established relationship with and have seen in the previous 6 months for the medical condition that requires the assistance animal. And the healthcare provider must fill out our form as well. And I have to send to healthcare provider just as I would a rental verification. By law In my state I do not have to accept any online letters if can’t be verified. And we do not accept them.

PMA has a webinar on this topic next month that might be helpful: www.pma-dc.org/events/you-bet-your-assets

DOwnload the HUD January 28, 2020 guidance on ESA's VERY helpful!

Here is the link to the FEDERAL standards for Service Animals: beta.ada.gov/topics/service-animals/
You will want to read your specific state standards as well. But according to the Federal standards, the disability is associated with the person. Ask the person to show their documentation from a licensed physician verifying their disability and they should also be able to explain and demonstrate what specific function the dog can perform for them, associated directly with their disability. I haven't found any government licensing for service animals on the state level. Your state may have a broader definition of service animal, to find that out, go to your individual state's attorney general office website for more info.

Here is an exerpt copied directly from the federal guideline on Service Animals:

"Service animals are defined as dogs that are individually trained to do work or perform tasks for people with disabilities. Examples of such work or tasks include guiding people who are blind, alerting people who are deaf, pulling a wheelchair, alerting and protecting a person who is having a seizure, reminding a person with mental illness to take prescribed medications, calming a person with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) during an anxiety attack, or performing other duties. Service animals are working animals, not pets. The work or task a dog has been trained to provide must be directly related to the person’s disability. Dogs whose sole function is to provide comfort or emotional support do not qualify as service animals under the ADA."