Steven G. Mlenak, a member of the firm’s Real Estate and Redevelopment & Land Use Departments and Community Association Practice Group, will present the webinar “Landlord Tenant Guide to Service and Assistance Animals,” which will be broadcast live by Lorman Educational Services on Friday, April 26, 2019 from 1:00pm – 2:30pm (ET). The program will be Mr. Mlenak’s second Lorman webinar on this topic.
Housing providers are required to provide reasonable accommodations from their rules and regulations for tenants who have a disability as defined by the Fair Housing Act and who are able to demonstrate that the accommodation requested is necessary to afford the tenant equal opportunity to use and enjoy the dwelling. As requests for reasonable accommodations for service and assistance animals are increasing, including those for emotional support animals, housing providers and their agents should be aware of the law surrounding such requests and should be able to recognize the common pitfalls, often innocent, that can occur when the law is not followed.
Mr. Mlenak’s presentation will provide practical information to the persons responsible for responding to requests for reasonable accommodations for service and assistance animals. The information will clarify who is eligible for an accommodation under the law, the process for requesting and obtaining an accommodation for service or assistance animals, in what situations such requests may be denied, and whether any limitations can be placed on such animals. This material is critical for housing providers and their agents to ensure that they do not find themselves unknowingly violating the Fair Housing Act.
The program agenda will include:
Housing Discrimination Laws
- Protected Classes
- Definition of Disability
- Federal vs. State Law
Reasonable Accommodations
- Process for Verification
- Tenant Rights
- Housing Provider's Rights
Service and Assistance Animals
- Pets or Animals?
- Reasonable Limitations
- Common and Not-So-Common Issues
Mr. Mlenak concentrates a majority of his practice in the area of community association law, providing strategic guidance and general counseling to the firm's association clients across a broad range of legal issues. His work encompasses the interpretation and amendment of governing documents and by-laws, drafting contracts, collection of delinquent assessments, the enforcement of rules and regulations, operational and maintenance issues, the fiduciary responsibilities of board members, transition negotiations and litigation, Municipal Services Act compliance, and alternative dispute resolution. He represents clients in construction defect litigation, Fair Housing discrimination cases and landlord-tenant matters.
Additional program information and registration at: Landlord Tenant Guide to Service and Assistance Animals