The Complete Guide to Assistance Animals: From Application to Accommodation and Beyond

Duration: 180 minutes

Speaker: Doug Chasick

Available On-Demand

PURCHASE OPTIONS

Individual Purchase Options
On-Demand Available On-Demand. Watch the webinar recording multiple times for 30 days.	$399
Recording Download link will be emailed for single user access with handouts. Available in 3-5 business days, after Live Event. Never Expires.	$499
Transcript (PDF) PDF transcript of webinar with handouts will be emailed. Available in 7-10 business days, after Live Event. Never Expires.	$309

ABOUT THE EVENT

Navigating the complexities of assistance animals in the apartment industry can be challenging. Understanding the legal requirements, managing resident requests, and balancing the needs of all parties requires careful consideration and a comprehensive understanding of the applicable laws and best practices. This session will equip you with the knowledge and tools you need to confidently and effectively manage assistance animal requests and ensure fair housing compliance.

Are you prepared to handle assistance animal requests with confidence and clarity? Do you understand the difference between service animals and emotional support animals? Are you up-to-date on the latest legal requirements and best practices? This webinar will provide you with the essential information you need to avoid costly legal pitfalls and create a fair and equitable process for all residents.

This isn't just a basic overview of assistance animals. "The Complete Guide to Assistance Animals" delves deep into the legal framework, practical application, and ongoing management of assistance animals for multifamily professionals. We'll break down the often-confusing terminology, explore real-world scenarios, and provide actionable strategies you can implement immediately by reviewing and highlighting the 2020 HUD Guidance on Assistance Animals.

Areas Covered

Part 1: Understanding the Legal Landscape

Defining Assistance Animals: We'll clarify the distinct definitions of service animals under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and emotional support animals (ESAs) under the Fair Housing Act (FHA). We'll explore the differences in their training, purpose, and legal protections.
The Fair Housing Act (FHA) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act: Understand the specific provisions of the FHA and Section 504 that govern assistance animals in housing.
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Service Animals: Learn about the ADA's regulations regarding service animals in public areas of your property, including leasing offices and common spaces.
State and Local Laws: Understand the interplay between federal, state, and local laws regarding assistance animals. We'll discuss how to navigate potentially conflicting regulations and ensure compliance at all levels.
Recent Legal Updates and Trends: Stay informed about the latest legal developments and trends related to assistance animals. We'll discuss recent court cases and regulatory guidance that impact the apartment industry.

Part 2: Managing the Application and Accommodation Process

Receiving Assistance Animal Requests: Learn best practices for receiving and documenting assistance animal requests.
Verification and Documentation: Understand the permissible scope of information you can request from residents regarding their assistance animals.
Reasonable Accommodation Requests: Learn how to evaluate reasonable accommodation requests for assistance animals. We'll explore the factors to consider when determining whether a request is reasonable and discuss potential accommodations you can offer.
Interactive Dialogue: Understand the importance of engaging in an interactive dialogue with residents regarding their assistance animal requests.
Handling Denials: Learn how to handle situations where a request for an assistance animal is denied, including the importance of providing a clear and documented explanation for the denial and the resident's right to appeal.

Part 3: Beyond the Application: Ongoing Management and Best Practices

Lease Agreements and Addendums: Learn how to incorporate appropriate language regarding assistance animals into your lease agreements and addendums.
Addressing Resident Concerns: Develop strategies for addressing concerns from other residents regarding assistance animals.
Handling Problem Behaviors: Learn how to address situations where an assistance animal is causing a nuisance or posing a threat to other residents.
Record Keeping and Documentation: Learn the importance of maintaining accurate and confidential records related to assistance animal requests. We'll discuss best practices for record keeping and data privacy.
Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them: We'll highlight common mistakes made by property managers when handling assistance animal requests and provide practical tips for avoiding these pitfalls.?

Learning Objectives

Ensure awareness of current compliance requirements as specified in the Fair Housing Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973.
Ensure understanding and familiarity with FHEO-2020-01, issued January 28, 2020 which explains in detail the current HUD guidelines for Assistance Animals.
Review, evaluate and implement effective strategies and policies for allowing and managing assistance animals in multifamily housing.

Who Should Attend

On-site and multi-site personnel including Regional/Area Managers, Community Managers, Maintenance Managers/Professionals, Training and HR Professionals.

Handouts & Reference Material

I will provide a PDF workbook with full page reproductions of the presentation slides and copies of relevant HUD and DOJ guidance documents.

Speaker(s)

Doug Chasick

Doug Chasick, CPM®, CAPS, Adv. RAM, SLE, That Fair Housing Guy™, is the former President of the Fair Housing Institute, Inc. With more than 46 years of investment real estate experience, he began as the Resident Manager of a 524-unit apartment property and has been the President or CEO of five real estate companies, responsible for portfolios of over 28,000 apartments. Doug was awarded his CPM® in 1979 and was a member of the IREM National Faculty for eight years. A Senior Instructor member of the NAAEI Faculty, he leads the Advanced Facilitator Training course, is the co-author of “Outstanding Facilitation Techniques”, and a co-author of the joint IREM & NAAEI “Fair Housing and Beyond” course. He is a licensed Real Estate Broker in Florida, a licensed Expert Fair Housing Instructor in the Commonwealth of Virginia, and the recipient of the NAAEI Apartment Career & Education award.

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