Description 

Did you know that 1 in 5 people in the US have a disability? Half of those are considered severe disabilities.

Disability is defined very broadly under the Fair Housing Act and any resident or prospect can make a disability-related request at any time. They may ask for an accommodation to a rule or procedure or they may need a physical modification to the property.

This session will clearly differentiate between accommodations and modifications, highlighting the rights and responsibilities of market rate vs. subsidized housing providers. It will also include what you need to know about considering such requests, who can act as a verifier, legal reasons for denying – as well as what HUD (Dept. of Housing & Urban Development) expects from you if you do decide to deny.

A range of common accommodation and modification requests will be discussed, including the ubiquitous disability-related aid animal along with HUD's guidance on the subject. This is an excellent primer for new property managers; it’s also great review for those who need a refresher, and equally beneficial for ‘Mom & Pop’ landlords.

Session Highlights

• Definition of disability
• Conditions that qualify under the Fair Housing Act
• Trio of disability protections
• Key differences between accommodations and modifications
Fundamental request and consideration principles of under the federal Fair Housing Act, including:

1. Residents / prospects’ right to ask (how, when)
2. Your obligation and your rights
3. What’s “reasonable” and legal reasons for denying
4. What you should know about the verification process and who can verify

Learning Objectives

Housing providers are required to reasonably accommodate and allow modifications (including pay for and provide modifications, depending on the situation) for disability-related needs under the Fair Housing Act. Of course, disabilities aren’t always obvious -- sign up today to assure you know what’s needed to comply with federal requirements.

We’ll talk about when and how a request may be made as well as the verification process and who can do the verifying. We’ll discuss what’s “reasonable” and legal reasons for denying along with common mistakes that could land you in legal jeopardy.

Who should Attend

• Leasing and on-site managers
• Portfolio managers
• Compliance officers
• Resident services coordinators (in affordable housing communities)
• Community concierges (in high-end housing communities)
• Independent landlords or small operators
• Service technicians, lead technicians, maintenance supervisors