Assistance Animal FAQs, Pt. 2: Backdated Verifications for Assistance Animals

In this four-part series we’re featuring answers to some tricky questions attendees asked during our recent webinar, How to Handle Requests for Assistance Animals, presented by attorney Theresa L. Kitay.

Q: If a tenant who’s requesting permission for an assistance animal provides verification from a credible source, but it's dated a few years back, is this acceptable? What is the rule for backdated verifications?

A: There isn't a rule; it's just a reasonableness issue. If the tenant has gotten a new animal, then you should ask the tenant to update the verification letter. If it's the same animal and it's a legitimate letter other than the date, then it’s probably good enough.