Service Dog Housing Letter

A Service Dog Housing Letter is a formal document that a person with a disability uses to request reasonable accommodation from a landlord or property manager to live with a service dog in a residential property. This letter typically includes essential details about the individual's disability (without violating privacy), information about the service dog, and the specific tasks the dog performs to assist the individual. It often accompanies documentation from a healthcare professional confirming the necessity of the service dog for the person’s health and well-being. Our template is designed to include all the necessary elements to help you craft a clear and effective request. For your convenience, this Service Dog Housing Letter template is available in Word, PDF, and Google Docs formats, making it easy for you to access and personalize it to suit your situation.

About this Template

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Contents of the Template

This template includes:

Personal Information Section: A designated area for the user to input personal details, ensuring clear identification and contact.
Service Dog Information Section: A comprehensive section to input the service dog’s details, including breed, age, weight, and color.
Task Description Table: A table for the user to list the specific tasks that the service dog is trained to perform, and how these tasks assist with the individual’s disability.
Legal References: Mention of relevant federal and state laws under which the request is made, establishing the legal basis for the accommodation request.
Responsibility Clause: A section where the requester acknowledges their responsibilities for the care and behavior of their service dog.
Response Time Request: A polite request for the landlord or property manager to respond within a specified time frame.
Attachment List: A place to list all accompanying documents, such as a letter from a healthcare professional or a service dog certification.

Why Use This Template

Clarity and Organization: This template is structured to help you present your request in a clear and organized manner, making it easier for the landlord or property manager to understand and process your request.
Legal Alignment: The template is designed to align with typical legal requirements, which can help in ensuring your request is in compliance with relevant laws.
Time-saving: Using this template can significantly reduce the time and effort it takes to draft a letter from scratch, as it provides a structured format that only requires you to fill in specific details.
Professional Tone: This template maintains a respectful and professional tone, which can be beneficial in fostering a positive and cooperative relationship with your landlord or property manager.

Ideal For

Individuals with a Disability: This template is especially useful for individuals with a disability who require a service dog as a reasonable accommodation in housing.
Tenants Moving to a New Property: For tenants who are moving and want to ensure that their service dog can move with them, this template provides a formal way to request accommodation from a new landlord or property manager.
Current Tenants Facing No-Pet Policies: For individuals living in a property with a ‘no pets’ policy, this template can be used to request an exception for a service dog as a reasonable accommodation.
Healthcare Professionals: This template can be shared by healthcare professionals with their patients, to assist them in securing housing accommodations for their service dogs.