An ESA is a medical tool and not a pet. Under Federal Off-white 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 accept 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 have admission to apartments with a no-pet policy and are exempt from pet-related fees.

If you feel like you may benefit and authorize for an ESA, you lot may read this article for more information.

If you are ready to authorize for an emotional back up animal letter, complete 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 have an ESA?
  • FAQ #2 – What practise I do if my landlord rejects my ESA even subsequently I show them my ESA alphabetic character?
  • FAQ #three – Tin a landlord pass up my ESA considering information technology is too young or also sometime?
  • FAQ #4 – My landlord is requiring me to annals my ESA. Can a landlord crave ESA registration if I already submitted my ESA letter?
  • FAQ #five – Tin a landlord adios me for getting an ESA?
  • FAQ #vi – Can a landlord question me well-nigh my mental or emotional disability?
  • FAQ #7 – When tin can a landlord legally reject an ESA?
How to tell your landlord you have an ESA.

How to Get an ESA Alphabetic character to Evidence my Landlord

In society to qualify for an emotional back up animal, y'all must beginning have an ESA letter from a licensed mental health professional or LMHP. The ESA letter lets your landlord know that y'all need the emotional back up animal for your disability and that you qualify under the Fair Housing Act. If yous accept an ESA letter from a real LMHP, your landlord cannot deny your asking or charge you a pet fee and pet deposit.

In guild to get your ESA letter to show your landlord, you can either connect with a licensed mental wellness professional in real life or connect with one online. The LMHP will determine if an emotional back up animal volition do good you lot and provide a written document requesting your ESA to live with you.

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

Get Started

Living with an Emotional Support Domestic dog or Cat – A Guide to Dealing with Difficult Landlords

Although the police is on your side, telling your landlord y'all have an Emotional Back up Animate being tin can be stressful. We will address commonly asked questions and provide tips on how to inform your landlord you have an ESA. Although it may be uncomfortable at first, standing up for your rights is important. Not merely for yourself merely 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 about your ESA. It is your right.

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

Informing your landlord you take an ESA tin be more challenging than informing an airline you are traveling with an ESA. The principal issue is that many landlords are unaware of ESA regulations.

The first step you should have before informing your landlord about having an ESA is to empathize your rights. Landlords may try to bully you lot past requesting sensitive medical records or your medical history. This is not legal and is in violation of Off-white Housing standards. You do non need to give in to this force per unit area. Instead, you lot should stand up upwards for yourself and other ESA handlers.

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

Either way, it is of import for yous to know your legal rights clearly. You may read more than well-nigh ESA housing rights by this article – Guide to Renting with an ESA.

To make your pet into an official ESA, you will demand an ESA alphabetic character from a therapist. This is mandatory, without an ESA alphabetic character your pet would not exist considered an ESA fifty-fifty if they provide yous with comfort. If you are currently seeing a therapist, we recommend that you asking an ESA letter of the alphabet from them straight. We would also be happy to pair you with a top animal therapy therapist if your therapist is unaware of ESA laws.

The 2nd footstep is submitting your ESA letter via electronic mail, fax, or in person. This shows that y'all accept the necessary documents for y'all to live with your emotional support animal. Emailing your letter volition provide proof that you have submitted your paperwork to your landlord or homeowners clan.

Go started on qualifying for an ESA letter of the alphabet 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 do if my landlord rejects my ESA even later I show them my ESA letter?

If your landlord persists on rejecting your ESA, you will ask them to write a formal alphabetic character reflecting this rejection. You will write back to them in an e-mail stating that y'all take provided all necessary documentation (which is an ESA alphabetic character from an ESA doctor or licensed mental health professional). You may write back documenting that they are rejecting a reasonable accommodation asking . You lot tin can and then inform them that you volition exist filing a complaint with the HUD for open bigotry of your disability. At this stage, your landlord volition be pushed to read upward on the law and encounter that reasonable accommodation is required to emotional support animal handlers. Be at-home but gear up to fight for your rights, no 1 should exist forced out of their dwelling or denied housing due to their disability.

Please note that we are non lawyers and this is non legal advice. This is data that our clients have found helpful and nosotros promise this is helpful to yous besides.

FAQ #3 – Can a landlord turn down my ESA because it is too immature or likewise old?

emotional support animal puppy
An emotional support creature cannot exist denied by a landlord just because it is a puppy or kitten. Historic period is not a factor for an ESA.

Emotional support animals cannot be denied due to their age. Landlords that deny dogs because they are younger and are considered puppies are not post-obit the rules set out by the Off-white Housing Act. With that being said, y'all are responsible for the deportment of your ESA. If your puppy causes damages to the building, you are liable. The cardinal is to clearly explicate to your landlord that in that location are no age requirements for an ESA and that you lot will be a responsible handler and will make sure your ESA, regardless of age, is well behaved.

FAQ #4 – My landlord is requiring me to register 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? At that place is no such affair! Let your landlord know that ESA registries are bogus. All you need is an ESA letter.

The only type of "registration" you need is your ESA letter. ESA registration is not required by law. The Off-white Housing Deed simply requires an ESA letter of the alphabet signed past a licensed mental health professional that is written on their official letterhead.

Whether or not you order an ESA Certification (separate and not to be confused with an ESA letter) is up to you. Some people volition prefer to social club a document or vest instead of arguing with their landlord. You can always make this decision, but information technology is besides important that you are enlightened that their request is non mandated by Off-white Housing.

FAQ #v – 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 simply because they do not let pets.

No, your landlord cannot evict you because they practise not want you to take an ESA. This is in direct violation of Fair Housing regulations. You are required to asking reasonable accommodations for your ESA before bringing them into your apartment. If you authorize for an ESA letter, you will submit it to your landlord and request reasonable accommodations for your ESA. Once they grant your request, you may bring your ESA home. Y'all 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 dandy you, practise not feel worried. Instead, calmly advise them of your rights and accept 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 you provide medical information in relation to your ESA.

No, they cannot. Merely this does not mean they will not endeavor. If you ever feel uncomfortable with your landlord'south questions, y'all may request that they email them to you. Most of the fourth dimension, landlords are simply unaware of the rules surrounding emotional support animals. We recommend that you stay at-home and clearly explain your rights to them. Allow them know that inquiring virtually your disability is not allowed and recommend they seek legal advice before continuing to pressure you lot to disembalm details regarding your inability.

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

There are some conditions when a landlord can pass up your ESA. Emotional support animal protection is meant to protect a person with an emotional or mental disability, the constabulary is not fabricated to punish the landlord. This is why there are particular situations where a landlord can reject an ESA.

  1. First – if the animal is also large for the accommodation 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 one of the buildings.
  3. Tertiary – it is a single-family firm that was rented without a realtor and the owner owns less than 3 unmarried family homes.
  4. Fourth – if the brute in the unit brings an undue financial hardship to the landlord.
  5. 5th – if the beast causes damages or harm to others in the building.

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

The first step would be to asking that your landlord suggest you of their electric current position (refusal, denial, etc.), in writing, as required by police. That ways email or alphabetic character, only not text.

And then, we recommend that you advise your landlord (in writing) that yous are willing to file a HUD complaint about open up discrimination. Nosotros find that the vast majority of landlords volition follow the law (even if reluctantly) and approve your ESA rather than violate federal housing laws and inability rights outlined by HUD. It is important to stand upward for yourself and the right to alive with your emotional support animal. When faced with the fright of discrimination, remember that the rules are here to protect you lot.

Housing Discrimination Complaint Online
Part of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity
U.Southward. Department of Housing and Urban Development
451 seventh Street, Due south.W. , Room 5242
Washington, D.C. 20410

Other Emotional Support Animal Rights

Besides housing admission, emotional back up animals are besides allowed to fly with their handler on airplanes. To learn more almost flying with your ESA, you may read this commodity.

Qualify for an emotional support animal today!

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Get the Dear and Support you deserve.

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