In what circumstance might a landlord be justified in denying an assistance animal request?

A landlord might be justified in denying an assistance animal request when there is a lack of appropriate documentation. Under the Fair Housing Act, individuals requesting reasonable accommodations for assistance animals are typically required to provide proper verification to confirm that the animal is necessary for their disability. This documentation often comes from a healthcare professional who can affirm the need for the animal. If such documentation is not provided, or if the documentation does not adequately establish the connection between the person's disability and the need for the assistance animal, the landlord is within their rights to deny the request.

In contrast, while other factors like proximity to other residents or concerns about allergies may raise issues, they do not provide a strong legal basis for denial under the Fair Housing Act. The key requirement is that the request must be evaluated based on the necessity linked to the individual's disability, hence the critical need for appropriate documentation to substantiate that requirement.