Description 

Understanding how to properly identify service animals, assistance animals, and emotional support animals in HUD-funded properties is critical—and often confusing. Staying compliant with verification requirements in HUD funded housing versus other federal laws is often misunderstood. Knowing the criteria to process animal-related reasonable accommodation requests, and when to deny them, is an essential function in HUD multifamily funded housing. This must-attend webinar is your guide to staying compliant while making fair, confident decisions that protect your property and support your residents. This session delivers practical strategies, real-world examples, and actionable guidance to help you manage animal-related accommodation requests the right way. Designed for housing professionals overseeing lease enforcement, resident accommodations, and compliance, this training breaks down the Fair Housing Act and Americans with Disabilities Act requirements, and how they intersect with HUD regulations, with clarity and real-world insight.

Why you should Attend

If you manage HUD multifamily funded housing, understanding how to handle service animals, assistance animals, and emotional support animals is critical to staying compliant and avoiding legal pitfalls. This training will give you the clarity to distinguish between different types of animals, confidently evaluate accommodation requests, and follow HUD, Fair Housing and ADA guidelines correctly. You'll learn what questions you can legally ask, how to verify documentation, and how to protect your property with proper documentation and decision-making.

Session Highlights

You’ll learn:

• The key differences between pets, service animals, assistance animals, and emotional support animals
• What you can and cannot ask when reviewing accommodation requests
• How to properly verify documentation—and avoid costly missteps
• When to approve or deny a request, with confidence and legal backing
• Best practices for documenting requests and decisions to reduce liability
• How to handle conflicts between residents over animal-related accommodations

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.