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A Cranberry Township-based property management company agreed to settle two federal lawsuits filed over how the company handles requests for allowing support animals to live with tenants who have disabilities.

Perry Homes Inc. consented to an agreement that resolves both cases involving rental properties the company owns and manages in Cranberry, Harmony and Zelienople. Both cases were filed in U.S. District Court in Pittsburgh alleging violations of the Fair Housing Act of 1988.

In the consent order that was signed Dec. 27, Perry Homes does not admit to any violations of the law; agreed to pay $30,000 to the parties that initiated the complaints; and received approval to verify that requests for support or assistance animals come from qualified health care professionals.

The U.S. Attorney’s office and Justice Department agreed to allow the company to require health care providers recommending support animals for tenants to complete forms confirming that they are qualified to diagnose a tenant’s disabilities and need for a support animal, said attorney Richard Hunt, of Garland, Texas, who represented Perry Homes.

“The main thing is approval of the forms requiring health care providers to verify that they have the training and experience that qualifies them to diagnose a disability, and the training and experience with support animals,” Hunt said.

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