Do landlords have the right to deny requests for assistance animals?

The correct answer is that landlords do not have the right to deny requests for assistance animals, provided that proper documentation is presented. Under the Fair Housing Act, individuals with disabilities may request reasonable accommodations for assistance animals, which can include emotional support animals, service animals, or therapy animals.

When individuals provide the necessary documentation, such as a letter from a qualified healthcare provider, it verifies the need for the animal as part of the person's treatment. This legal obligation requires landlords to consider these requests seriously and to allow assistance animals even in properties with "no pets" policies, as long as the tenant meets the criteria established by the law.

In situations where documentation is insufficient or the request is not directly connected to a person's disability, a landlord maintains the right to deny the request. However, the key condition for acceptance lies in the adequacy of the documentation provided, reaffirming the importance of following legal guidelines in such scenarios.