Q: Is my girlfriend allowed to bring her emotional support dog into my apartment
My apartment has a fee for pets and no pets are allowed in without paper work and a monthly payment. However my girlfriend is visiting with her emotional support dog. Can they refuse her dog to stay there? I am in Wilson NC
A:
No. Under the federal Fair Housing Act (FHA), management is prohibited from discriminating against the disabled and would be required to permit your disabled girlfriend to bring an assistance animal to your community (even if it is a “no pets” property). The FHA extends not only to residents, but also to individuals “associated” with the resident. As such, a guest of a resident is covered under the law as residents are entitled to the full enjoyment of their housing – which includes having disabled guests visit.
Now, with respect to medical verifications, the rules are the same for residents or guests. So your complex management may seek competent medical information to demonstrate that your girlfriend is indeed disabled and that there is a link between her emotional support animal and her disability.
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