Need Attorney for Fair Housing Charge

[Michelle Fox]

I had a home in Lake County Ohio for rent Fair Housing sent a tester who said they had a service animal. They said I told the tester there would be a security deposit for the animal. Fair housing  filed a charge of discrimination. Now they are trying to charge me $8,000 for being in violation. This was a tester. No one filled out an application or was denied the animal. No one suffered pain or suffering. This was a tester!! I am looking for an attorney to help with this matter and try to come to a fair settlement with Fair Housing. 
Can you help?  Thank you!  No

[Corby Goade]

This is super common, my market is littered with testers, we get calls and walk throughs with them several times per month it seems. You have to know the laws and be VERY conservative in your answers. You can't charge a deposit for a service animal, just because you said it to a tester doesn't mean they can't come after you. It stinks, but as landlords, we have to know the laws and act accordingly.