What must a landlord do when faced with a request for a service animal in a no-pet policy situation?

In situations where a tenant requests a service animal while living under a no-pet policy, the landlord is required to review the tenant's documentation related to the service animal, assuming the policy includes this requirement. According to the Fair Housing Act, service animals are not considered pets; therefore, landlords are obligated to reasonably accommodate individuals with disabilities that require the use of a service animal.

This review process allows the landlord to verify that the request is based on legitimate needs related to a disability and to ensure that the service animal meets the necessary criteria. It is important for landlords to maintain a balance between accommodating the needs of individuals with disabilities while also following their established policies.

Automatically granting the request without question does not allow for any necessary verification of the service animal's legitimacy. Revoking the no-pet policy entirely is unnecessary, as the allowance of service animals is an exception rather than an overhaul of the entire policy. Charging a fee for a service animal is also inappropriate since service animals are intended to assist individuals with disabilities and do not incur any fees or deposits typically associated with pets.