Spokane7
62°
November 2, 2009 in City
Companion animals shut out
Official says landlords often go against law
Many Idaho landlords are breaking federal housing laws that involve renters with doctor-prescribed companion animals, an official with the Intermountain Fair Housing Council says.
Richard Mabbutt said he receives calls daily about landlords violating the rights of renters with service animals.
“Property owners will tell you they’ve got to think about property value, that pets will surely ruin them over time,” Mabbutt said.
The federal Fair Housing Act makes it illegal for the owner of a complex of four or more units, including apartments, hotels and motels, to refuse someone a room because of animals prescribed to help cope with a mental or physical condition.
Mabbutt said testing by the fair housing council has found 80 percent noncompliance by landlords in Idaho concerning companion or service animals.
“Some landlords are operating by what I call arrogance – ‘This is my property. I can do what I want. I will set the rules,’ ” he said.
“Some claim they don’t know anything.”
Companion animals are designated by a letter or prescription from any health professional, such as doctors, registered nurses, psychologists and physical therapists.
“If your physical therapist says, ‘Look, get Rover to take you for walks, the animal will make you get up, make you get out,’ ” Mabbutt said.
“It keeps you ambulatory, and it’s somebody who needs you, somebody that you care for. And that can make all the difference.”
Mabbutt said it’s also illegal for landlords to require a pet deposit for companion animals or ask about an applicant’s medical condition.
He said about 40 administrative complaints have been filed this year in Idaho, and that a lawsuit was settled in June for $20,000 involving a Sandpoint apartment complex.
© Copyright 2009 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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bare838 on November 02 at 3:09 p.m.
I guess that means that 39 of the complaints were either unfounded or still under review.
I was an unfortunate victim of Mr. Mabbutt and a vindictive former tenant, but thanks to good record keeping, I was able to prove my case.
The Idaho Fair Housing Council would find that they would have much better compliance if they were to spend some of the money they waste, on education of landlords rather than prosecution.
The first time I was ever contacted by the fair housing council was with a complaint and offer of settlement.
CheckingItOut on November 02 at 9:21 p.m.
Isn’t an animal that resides in one’s home for companionship called a ‘pet’? And are you saying all I had to do to keep an animal in my apartment of choice was get my doctor to write a note (rather than finding one that accepted animals and cost more)?
Of all the ridiculousness. Our society is handicapped by people like these, and others usually end up paying for it!
PhillipK81 on May 19 at 1:50 p.m.
Not all People who have pets have companion animals. Most companion animals are for people who have severe cases of depression or suffer from things like post traumatic stress disorder. These are people that benefit a great deal more from animal companionship than average people. You can’t just go get a scrip from dr. blowhard. Typically there has to be an ongoing issue with clinical depression and history with the doctor. Of course all people benefit from a family pet. People with these disabilities would say they’re pets have saved their lives in more way than 1. If you don’t like this why don’t you go suffer from an experience with impossible to comprehend mental upshot, seclude yourself for months then try getting a dog and tell me if it at all helps.