Support Animal (s)

[Makan A Tabrizi]

I have two two-bedroom apartment for rent (950 sq/ft). I just had a prospective tenant ask me if I'm OK with him having 4 support animals. These are labs at about 60 lbs per animal. Normally I accept two 2 animals if they are preapproved. I understand you're supposed to accept support animals (with a letter from a qualified therapist?) and there are no limits as to the number of animals (?). A quick check on Google tells me that it isn't all that hard getting the said letter. Logic alone tells me that there has to be a limiting factor. You can't allow a tenant to bring in a herd of animals, even if you could collect pet rent + pet deposit (Which I believe you can not for support animals). Or am I wrong? Thank you for your suggestions and/comments.

[Nathan Gesner]

Quote from @Makan A Tabrizi:

Reject him and cut off communication. Do it now. Once you get rid of him, then do your research.

HUD guide: https://www.hud.gov/sites/dfiles/PA/documents/HUDAsstAnimalN...

HUD is clear that they can't use online certificates or "registries" to claim support animals. They must be prescribed by a medical professional. If the disability is not obvious, then you have the right to ask for proof of the prescription to verify it's legit. And HUD supports the idea that the prescription should be renewed annually so you shouldn't accept letters that are five years old.

HUD is also clear that an individual can only have one animal prescribed per disability. Your applicant would have to have four separate disabilities and each dog would have to be serving a separate purpose. This naturally raises the question: why can't one dog serve more than one purpose? Nobody ever answers that question.

Bottom line: the applicant is supposed to make a "reasonable request for accommodation" and you are supposed to allow it as long as the request is reasonable. I don't think it's reasonable to have four large dogs in a small apartment and his claim is 99.9% fraudulent anyway.