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 law protects owners of emotional support animals (ESAs). Housing providers must accommodate ESA owners, even if they have a policy or lease that prohibits all pets. ESA owners are also exempt from pet-related fees and restrictions on pet size or breed. Landlords can only deny [...]
If you have an emotional or mental disability and your pet brings you comfort and a new lease on life, then you may be entitled to housing in "no pets" policy buildings. You are also, by law, not required to pay any extra fees for your ESA or have a weight or breed restriction im [...]
More and more renters are enjoying the companionship of an emotional support animal (ESA) to cope with their mental and emotional health issues. Under federal and state housing rules, landlords cannot discriminate against tenants who need emotional support animals, and ESA owners [...]
Moving is always stressful, and this tends to be even more true if your family includes a pet. Finding the perfect home for your pet can be tricky. Many buildings only accept certain breeds or small pets. It is also common for buildings to charge costly pet fees and pet deposits. [...]
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.