Final answer:
Refusing to show a rental unit to a blind man with an assistive animal due to a 'No Pets' policy is illegal. Federal laws like the ADA require landlords to allow service animals as a necessary accommodation for individuals with disabilities.
Step-by-step explanation:
The refusal of a landlord to show a blind man with an assistive animal a unit due to a 'No Pets' policy is illegal. According to federal laws such as the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), landlords are required to provide reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities. This includes allowing assistive animals, such as guide dogs, regardless of a general no pets policy.
The ADA clearly spells out that an assistive animal is not considered a pet, but rather a necessary accommodation for the individual’s disability.
In the context of housing, it is important to distinguish between pets and service animals. A service animal is defined as a dog that is individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of a person with a disability. These tasks may include guiding a blind individual, alerting a deaf person to a sound, or providing assistance with mobility or stability to an individual with a mobility disability.
Therefore, the action by the landlord not only violates federal anti-discrimination laws but also fails to uphold the right to necessary accommodations for people with disabilities.