Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Disability Accommodations topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Landlords reminded to accommodate disabilities; emotional-support animals protected when documented
Summary
Jennifer Felton explained landlords' obligations to make reasonable accommodations and modifications for tenants with disabilities, and described California rules protecting properly documented emotional-support animals.
Jennifer Felton urged landlords to get legal guidance when tenants request disability accommodations or structural modifications, noting that costs, restoration requirements and building age can affect obligations. "If a property does need to be...rehabilitated to address someone with a disability, the landlord can require that the property be put back in the prior condition under certain circumstances," she said.
On emotional-support animals, Felton used a memorable anecdote to illustrate complexity: "It was her emotional support chicken," she said while explaining that if proper documentation is presented, landlords generally cannot deny emotional-support animals under California rules enacted in recent years. She advised landlords to balance accommodation duties with documented evidence and legal counsel.
