One of the most difficult issues facing community association board members is how to evaluate and address requests for accommodations for emotional support animals (“ESA”). Often, mental disabilities are not as visible and obvious as many physical disabilities. Combine this with the number of websites and individual medical professionals that advertise to write letters after a one-time evaluation or, worse yet, an online “test,” and you have a situation in which a community association cannot win. If they approve the animal, the residents are forced to live with an animal, despite having severe allergies and/or phobias. If they deny the animal, the associations are subject to lawsuits and HUD complaints.    Read the article………………………..