Direct answer
What does assistance animal mean?
An assistance animal is an animal that works, provides assistance or performs tasks, or provides disability-related emotional support under applicable housing rules.
Exam cue: An assistance animal is not evaluated only under a housing provider's ordinary pet rules.
What does it look like in a question?
Example
A tenant requests a no-pet-policy exception for a disability-related assistance animal.
Common exam trap
What should you not confuse it with?
An assistance animal in housing is not necessarily a trained service dog and is not simply a pet.
Related fair housing terms
BlockbustingBlockbusting is inducing or attempting to induce a sale or rental by suggesting that protected-class entry or change will cause harmful neighborhood effects.Disparate treatmentDisparate treatment is treating a person differently from others because of a protected characteristic.Fair housing testingFair housing testing is a method of comparing housing experiences using people with matched profiles to identify possible discrimination.Familial statusFamilial status is a protected class under federal and New York law covering households with a child under 18, pregnant persons and people gaining custody of a child.Implicit biasImplicit bias is an attitude or association that affects a person's judgment without the person being aware of it.Lawful source of incomeLawful source of income is a New York protected characteristic covering lawful income used to pay for housing, including specified public and private sources.
Sources used4 references with section locators
The curriculum citation confirms exam scope. Definition and rule citations support the explanation itself.
- Real Estate Salesperson 77-Hour CurriculumNew York State Department of StateSupports: Exam scopeSection: Subject 9, Human Rights and Fair Housing
- A Basic Guide to Fair Housing Under the New York State Human Rights LawNew York State Division of Human RightsSupports: New York ruleSection: Protected characteristics and prohibited housing practices
- Fair Housing Act OverviewU.S. Department of Housing and Urban DevelopmentSupports: Federal ruleSection: Federal Fair Housing Act overview
- Assistance AnimalsU.S. Department of Housing and Urban DevelopmentSupports: Federal ruleSection: Definition, housing-provider obligations and examples
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