The main legal rights for emotional support animals are housing-related. Find out how to disclose your ESA to your landlord or HOA, housing rights, and more here.
Learn about bringing your ESA or service dog to your college campus.
Practical tips and advice for dealing with your HOA when you have an ESA or service dog.
Guides for renters who want to live with their pet, ESA or service dog.
Emotional support animals (ESA) are pets that provide comfort to owners with mental health disorders, including anxiety, depression, ADHD, OCD, and other disorders diagnosed by...
When you have an emotional support animal (ESA) and the right documentation, you are protected by certain rights under federal law when it comes to...
The law protects owners of emotional support animals (ESAs). Housing providers must accommodate ESA owners, even if they have a policy or lease that prohibits...
The short answer: You can inform your landlord you want to live with an emotional support animal by giving them an ESA letter. You do not need to submit any other forms, though you can send the ESA letter together with a simple cover message if you wish. If you’re comfortable wit [...]
Short answer: In most cases, a landlord cannot deny an emotional support animal (ESA) over concern about allergies. The landlord must prove that the ESA poses a direct threat to the health of others and also consider steps to reduce the potential harm. Why it’s usually not [...]
The Short Answer: No, emotional support animals do not count as normal pets for purposes of a residential building’s animal policies. ESAs are exempt from pet rules because they are legally considered assistance animals for people with mental health conditions. What if my buildin [...]
The Short Answer: Yes, but there has to be a valid legal reason. Under federal and state laws, owners of emotional support animals have the right to live with their animals in no-pet buildings. However, there are some limited exceptions which we will explain. When can a lan [...]
Yes, under federal and state rules, landlords have to reasonably accommodate tenants that need an ESA to support their mental health. Even if they have a building policy that prohibits all pets.
Fair housing rules generally apply to most public and private landlords. That includes rental apartments, co-ops and HOAs. A few smaller landlords are exempt: owner-occupied buildings with no more than four units and single-family homes sold or rented by the owner without the use of an agent.
Landlords are entitled to see only one document to confirm a tenant’s animal is an ESA. That document is an ESA letter signed by a licensed healthcare professional. Landlords cannot ask for other documents like IDs, licenses or certificates.