Do I have to disclose my ESA dog?

To protect your rights under the Fair Housing Act, you are not required to disclose the disability the service animal or emotional support animal is meant for. “They just need to know the person is disabled, not what the disability is, and that the animal is needed to address their disability.

Do I have to disclose ESA on application?

There is no Fair Housing mandate to disclose an ESA at the time you apply for an apartment. Landlords are also obligated to consider an ESA request from a tenant whenever they receive it. Remember, federal laws protect your right to live with an emotional support animal.

What to say to get approved for an ESA?

A valid ESA letter should contain the following:

The letterhead and signature of your physician or licensed mental health professional.
Details of their license (such as the date of issue, state, and license number)
Address of their practice (or home address if they work remotely)

How do I get my dog ESA certified?

The only legitimate way to qualify your dog as an Emotional Support Animal is by obtaining a recommendation letter from a licensed mental health professional. If you do not have a therapist or are having trouble finding one, you can connect with a mental health professional through an online platform.

Is it easy to get ESA letter?

The process for securing an ESA letter is not difficult, especially if you are currently experiencing stress, anxiety or depression. Simply explain to a doctor why you think an animal would enhance your therapy and why you need them to travel with you or live with you in housing that otherwise would not allow animals.

What are the rules for having an ESA animal?

A person with an ESA animal must also comply with certain rules. For example, they must make sure that their emotional support animal is not aggressive toward other people or animals in the building when unprovoked.

How to apply for emotional support animal ( ESA )?

Once you have qualified your animal companion as an emotional support animal with an ESA letter, it’s now time to approach your landlord. The best approach is to proceed in a friendly and open manner. You can make your ESA request verbally or in writing (via email for example).

Can a ESA be used as a service dog?

However, they are not service dogs, and ESA users do not receive the same accommodations as service dog users.

Can a landlord verify if an animal friend is an ESA?

Your landlord is entitled to verify that your animal friend is indeed an ESA by requesting an ESA letter. You are not under any obligation to disclose your specific disability or other sensitive details about your condition.

Do you need an ESA to have an emotional support animal?

However, the FHA does require written documentation or ESA letter from a licensed mental health professional attesting to the tenant’s need for an Emotional Support Animal. Simply having an ESA registration or vest is not enough to qualify an animal as an ESA.

Can a guide dog be used as an ESA?

However, they are not service dogs, and ESA users do not receive the same accommodations as service dog users. A service dog, such as a guide dog or psychiatric service dog, is generally allowed anywhere the public is allowed; ESAs are not. For example, ESAs generally cannot accompany their owners into restaurants or shopping malls.

Is the ESA considered a service animal under ADA?

*** ESAs have no legal status outside of qualified/approved FHAct housing and domestic air travel. They are not considered an assistance animal or service animal under ADA and should only be going with their owners to pet-friendly businesses.