Navigating Service Animals in HUD Multifamily Housing: Compliance & Best Practices

Handling service and assistance animals in HUD properties can be challenging, especially when balancing resident needs with legal compliance. This essential webinar will guide housing professionals through the complex landscape of Fair Housing laws and the Americans with Disabilities Act, ensuring they remain compliant while making informed decisions.

Participants will gain a clear understanding of the differences between service animals, assistance animals, and pets, as well as the specific legal requirements that apply to HUD Multifamily funded properties. The webinar will explore what questions can and cannot be asked when processing reasonable accommodation requests and will provide guidance on proper verification techniques to avoid common mistakes. Attendees will also learn how to confidently assess when a request should be approved or denied, ensuring that all decisions align with federal regulations.

This session is designed for housing professionals responsible for lease enforcement, resident accommodations, and compliance. With expert insights, real-world examples, and practical strategies, this session will equip attendees with the tools needed to navigate the complexities of service and assistance animal policies effectively. Missteps in this area can lead to costly legal issues, but with the right knowledge, housing professionals can protect their properties while ensuring fair treatment for residents.

Don’t let confusion about service and assistance animals put your property at risk. Join us for this informative session and gain the confidence to handle these requests correctly and compliantly. Secure your spot today and stay ahead in regulatory compliance.

Webinar Objectives

This webinar provides a comprehensive overview of assistance and service animals in HUD properties, ensuring compliance with Fair Housing and ADA regulations. Participants will learn the key differences between assistance animals and pets, as well as the proper procedures for handling reasonable accommodation requests. The session will cover what questions can and cannot be asked, the appropriate verification techniques, and the legal requirements for processing these requests. Additionally, attendees will gain insight into when it is appropriate to approve or deny an animal-related accommodation request. This training is essential for housing professionals seeking to navigate these regulations with confidence and accuracy.

Webinar Agenda

• Identify Service Animals versus Pets
• When to approve and deny reasonable accommodation requests for service animals at HUD Multifamily properties
• Learn what questions can and cannot be asked
• Learn different types of assistance and service animals
• Identify how assistance animals differ from pets
• Learn questions you can and cannot ask when processing a reasonable accommodation request for animals
• Determine proper techniques for required verifications
• Learn how to be compliance with Fair Housing and ADA requirements at HUD properties
• Identify when it is proper to deny an animal related reasonable accommodation request

Webinar Highlights

• Learn different types of assistance and service animals
• Identify how assistance animals differ from pets
• Learn questions you can and cannot ask when processing a reasonable accommodation request for animals
• Determine proper techniques for required verifications
• Learn how to be compliant with Fair Housing and ADA requirements at HUD properties
• Identify when it is proper to deny an animal related reasonable accommodation request

Who Should Attend

Staff at HUD Multifamily funded Properties: Manager, Assistant Manager, Leasing Agent, Compliance Officers. Staff responsible for processing animal-related reasonable accommodation requests as well as any front office staff who interact with residents and guests who have service-related animals versus pets, including 504 Coordinators.