HUD CHARGES PHILADELPHIA CONDOMINIUM ASSOCIATION WITH DISCRIMINATING AGAINST RESIDENTS WITH DISABILITIES

WASHINGTON, DC – October 19, 2011 – (RealEstateRama) — The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development announced today that it is charging a Philadelphia condominium association with violating the Fair Housing Act for refusing to revise its “no pets” policy as a reasonable accommodation for condominium residents with disabilities who required assistance animals. HUD’s charge alleges that The Philadelphian Owners’ Association (POA), which manages the 776-unit Philadelphian condominium complex, requiredthat residents provide burdensome and invasive medical documentation before requests for accommodation would be considered, severely limited access to the complex’s facilities for residents accompanied by assistance animals, and failed to address several instances of harassment of residents requiring assistance animals.