Hawaii Pre-Licensing National Practice Exam

Under the Federal Fair Housing Act, what may an owner do when a visually-impaired person requests an apartment with a no-pets policy?

1. Deny the application due to the pet policy

2. Require the individual to pay additional fees

3. Allow the person to have the Seeing Eye dog

4. Ask for proof of service animal certification

The correct answer is: Allow the person to have the Seeing Eye dog

An owner must allow a visually-impaired person to have a Seeing Eye dog, even in a property that has a no-pets policy. This is because service animals, such as Seeing Eye dogs, are not classified as pets under the Federal Fair Housing Act. The Act mandates that reasonable accommodations must be made for individuals with disabilities, which includes allowing service animals. The law recognizes that service animals are essential for individuals with certain disabilities to fully utilize and enjoy their living accommodations. Thus, the presence of a Seeing Eye dog is a necessary accommodation for the visually impaired individual, irrespective of existing pet restrictions. To provide further context, denying the application due to a pet policy does not align with the requirement to accommodate individuals with disabilities. Similarly, requiring additional fees or asking for proof of service animal certification would go against the spirit of the Fair Housing Act, which emphasizes equal access and the removal of barriers that might hinder individuals with disabilities from having the same housing opportunities as others.