Final answer:
The most common request seen regarding property management and disability is a request for a rule change prohibiting an animal from residing with a disabled person. Property managers must navigate the legal requirements surrounding reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities, including allowing service animals to live with their disabled owners.
Step-by-step explanation:
The most common request seen regarding property management and disability is a request for a rule change prohibiting an animal from residing with a disabled person. This request often arises due to concerns from other residents about noise, allergies, or potential damages caused by the animal. Property managers must navigate the legal requirements surrounding reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities, including allowing service animals to live with their disabled owners.
Under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), individuals with disabilities have the right to have a service animal as a reasonable accommodation. Service animals are not considered pets, but rather trained animals that provide assistance or perform tasks for people with disabilities. Property managers cannot discriminate against disabled individuals by denying them the opportunity to have a service animal reside with them.
However, property managers may have restrictions on certain types of animals for safety or health reasons. For example, a property may have a policy that prohibits aggressive dog breeds. In such cases, property managers must engage in an interactive process with the disabled individual to determine if there are alternative accommodations that can be provided, such as a different breed of dog that is not restricted by the policy.