An ESA is a medical tool and not a pet. Under Federal Fair Housing Laws, Emotional  Support Animals must have access to apartments with a no-pet policy and are exempt from pet-related fees.

Pets that provide people with comfort have unique housing rights. The constabulary refers to these types of pets as Emotional Support Animals. Emotional Support Animals help aid with an emotional or mental disability. An ESA is a medical tool and not a pet. Under Federal Fair Housing Laws, Emotional  Support Animals must take admission to apartments with a no-pet policy and are exempt from pet-related fees.

If yous experience like you may benefit and qualify for an ESA, you may read this article for more data.

If yous are ready to qualify for an emotional support beast alphabetic character, consummate the questionnaire to connect with a licensed mental health professional today.

Need help? We can help! Get started here
  • FAQ #1 – How do I tell my landlord I accept an ESA?
  • FAQ #2 – What practise I do if my landlord rejects my ESA even later I show them my ESA alphabetic character?
  • FAQ #3 – Can a landlord reject my ESA because information technology is too immature or too one-time?
  • FAQ #4 – My landlord is requiring me to register my ESA. Can a landlord require ESA registration if I already submitted my ESA letter?
  • FAQ #five – Can a landlord evict me for getting an ESA?
  • FAQ #6 – Can a landlord question me about my mental or emotional inability?
  • FAQ #seven – When tin a landlord legally reject an ESA?
How to tell your landlord you have an ESA.

How to Go an ESA Letter of the alphabet to Show my Landlord

In social club to qualify for an emotional support fauna, you lot must offset accept an ESA letter of the alphabet from a licensed mental health professional or LMHP. The ESA letter lets your landlord know that y'all need the emotional support animal for your disability and that yous qualify under the Fair Housing Human activity. If you lot have an ESA letter of the alphabet from a existent LMHP, your landlord cannot deny your request or accuse you lot a pet fee and pet deposit.

In order to get your ESA letter to show your landlord, you can either connect with a licensed mental health professional person in real life or connect with one online. The LMHP volition determine if an emotional back up fauna will benefit you and provide a written certificate requesting your ESA to live with you.

To connect with a real licensed mental health professional online, complete the ESA Questionnaire in the "Go Started" link below.

Get Started

Living with an Emotional Back up Dog or Cat – A Guide to Dealing with Difficult Landlords

Although the law is on your side, telling your landlord yous have an Emotional Support Fauna can exist stressful. We will address ordinarily asked questions and provide tips on how to inform your landlord you have an ESA. Although information technology may be uncomfortable at showtime, standing upwards for your rights is of import. Non only for yourself simply for other people who may need the support of an ESA.

Be confident in telling your landlord about your ESA. It is your right.
Be confident in telling your landlord virtually your ESA. It is your right.

FAQ #1 – How do I tell my landlord I accept an ESA? Especially if the edifice has a no pet policy or monthly fees/special pet deposit.

Informing your landlord you have an ESA tin exist more challenging than informing an airline y'all are traveling with an ESA. The main upshot is that many landlords are unaware of ESA regulations.

The first step y'all should take before informing your landlord nearly having an ESA is to sympathise your rights. Landlords may endeavor to cracking you past requesting sensitive medical records or your medical history. This is not legal and is in violation of Fair Housing standards. You lot practice not need to give in to this pressure. Instead, you lot should stand up upwards for yourself and other ESA handlers.

From another perspective, your landlord may also simply be unaware of ESA laws. You can take this opportunity to inform them of your rights. This will allow them to improve understand your request for reasonable accommodations.

Either way, it is important for you to know your legal rights clearly. Yous may read more almost ESA housing rights by this article – Guide to Renting with an ESA.

To make your pet into an official ESA, you volition need an ESA alphabetic character from a therapist. This is mandatory, without an ESA letter of the alphabet your pet would not be considered an ESA even if they provide y'all with comfort. If you lot are currently seeing a therapist, we recommend that you request an ESA alphabetic character from them directly. We would also exist happy to pair you with a top animal therapy therapist if your therapist is unaware of ESA laws.

The 2d step is submitting your ESA letter via electronic mail, fax, or in person. This shows that yous have the necessary documents for you to live with your emotional support creature. Emailing your letter volition provide proof that you have submitted your paperwork to your landlord or homeowners association.

Get started on qualifying for an ESA letter past completing the questionnaire in the link below.

Three easy steps to get an ESA Letter with ESA Doctors
Get Started

FAQ #2 – What do I practice if my landlord rejects my ESA even afterwards I show them my ESA letter of the alphabet?

If your landlord persists on rejecting your ESA, you will ask them to write a formal letter reflecting this rejection. Y'all will write back to them in an email stating that you lot accept provided all necessary documentation (which is an ESA letter from an ESA doctor or licensed mental health professional). Y'all may write back documenting that they are rejecting a reasonable accommodation request . Y'all can then inform them that you will be filing a complaint with the HUD for open discrimination of your disability. At this stage, your landlord will be pushed to read up on the police force and see that reasonable adaptation is required to emotional support fauna handlers. Exist at-home but ready to fight for your rights, no one should be forced out of their habitation or denied housing due to their disability.

Please note that we are not lawyers and this is non legal advice. This is data that our clients have constitute helpful and we hope this is helpful to yous as well.

FAQ #3 – Tin can a landlord reject my ESA because it is as well immature or too former?

emotional support animal puppy
An emotional support animal cannot be denied by a landlord just because information technology is a puppy or kitten. Age is not a factor for an ESA.

Emotional support animals cannot be denied due to their age. Landlords that deny dogs considering they are younger and are considered puppies are non following the rules set out past the Fair Housing Act. With that existence said, you are responsible for the deportment of your ESA. If your puppy causes damages to the edifice, you are liable. The fundamental is to clearly explain to your landlord that there are no age requirements for an ESA and that you volition be a responsible handler and will brand certain your ESA, regardless of age, is well behaved.

FAQ #4 – My landlord is requiring me to annals my ESA. Can a landlord require ESA registration if I already submitted my ESA letter?

ESA Registration? There is no such thing! Let your landlord know that ESA registries are bogus. All you need is an ESA letter.
ESA Registration? There is no such thing! Let your landlord know that ESA registries are artificial. All you need is an ESA letter.

The only blazon of "registration" yous need is your ESA letter. ESA registration is not required by law. The Fair Housing Act only requires an ESA letter signed by a licensed mental health professional person that is written on their official letterhead.

Whether or not you order an ESA Certification (separate and non to be confused with an ESA letter) is up to you lot. Some people will prefer to order a document or vest instead of arguing with their landlord. You tin always make this determination, but information technology is as well important that you are aware that their request is not mandated by Fair Housing.

FAQ #five – Can a landlord evict me for getting an ESA?

A landlord cannot deny an ESA simply because they do not allow pets.
A landlord cannot deny an ESA but because they practice non permit pets.

No, your landlord cannot evict you considering they exercise not want yous to have an ESA. This is in directly violation of Fair Housing regulations. You are required to request reasonable accommodations for your ESA before bringing them into your apartment. If you authorize for an ESA alphabetic character, you will submit information technology to your landlord and request reasonable accommodations for your ESA. Once they grant your request, you may bring your ESA home. You are not required to pay a pet deposit or monthly fee.

Unfortunately, not many landlords or building supers are well versed in ESA regulations. If they bully you, do not feel worried. Instead, calmly advise them of your rights and take them verify it with their team.

Need help? We can help! Get started here

FAQ #6 – Can a landlord question me about my mental or emotional disability?

Landlords cannot question you about your disability. They cannot require that you provide medical information in relation to your ESA.
Landlords cannot question you about your disability. They cannot require that yous provide medical information in relation to your ESA.

No, they cannot. But this does not mean they volition not endeavour. If you always experience uncomfortable with your landlord's questions, you may request that they email them to you. Almost of the time, landlords are but unaware of the rules surrounding emotional support animals. We recommend that yous stay calm and clearly explain your rights to them. Let them know that inquiring almost your inability is non allowed and recommend they seek legal advice before continuing to pressure you to disclose details regarding your disability.

FAQ #vii – When can a landlord legally pass up an ESA?

There are some atmospheric condition when a landlord can reject your ESA. Emotional back up animal protection is meant to protect a person with an emotional or mental inability, the constabulary is not made to punish the landlord. This is why at that place are particular situations where a landlord can reject an ESA.

  1. First – if the animal is besides large for the adaptation size. For example, a horse or a llama may be rejected from a small studio apartment.
  2. Second – if the building has 4 units or less and the landlord lives in 1 of the buildings.
  3. Third – information technology is a unmarried-family house that was rented without a realtor and the owner owns less than 3 single family homes.
  4. Fourth – if the animal in the unit brings an undue financial hardship to the landlord.
  5. Fifth – if the fauna causes damages or harm to others in the building.

What to do if your landlord continues to discriminate confronting your ESA

The beginning step would be to request that your landlord advise you of their electric current position (refusal, denial, etc.), in writing, as required by law. That ways electronic mail or letter, but not text.

And then, we recommend that you advise your landlord (in writing) that you are willing to file a HUD complaint about open up bigotry. We find that the vast majority of landlords will follow the law (even if reluctantly) and approve your ESA rather than violate federal housing laws and disability rights outlined by HUD. It is important to stand upwards for yourself and the right to alive with your emotional support animate being. When faced with the fearfulness of bigotry, remember that the rules are hither to protect you.

Housing Bigotry Complaint Online
Office of Off-white Housing and Equal Opportunity
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
451 7th Street, S.W. , Room 5242
Washington, D.C. 20410

Other Emotional Support Beast Rights

Also housing access, emotional back up animals are also immune to fly with their handler on airplanes. To learn more than most flying with your ESA, you lot may read this article.

Authorize for an emotional support beast today!

Start Now!

Get the Love and Support you deserve.

Disclaimer: Nosotros are not doctors, a medical clinic, lawyers or a police force firm and nosotros do not provide legal, medical, business concern or revenue enhancement advice. None of our representatives are lawyers and they also exercise not provide legal, business or taxation advice. The accuracy, completeness, adequacy or currency of the content is not warranted or guaranteed. Our sites and services are not substitutes for the advice or services of an attorney. We recommend you consult a lawyer or other advisable professional if you want legal, business organization or tax advice .