ESA laws for rentals: a complete guide

At realesaletter, we understand the importance of emotional support animals and their role in helping individuals manage their mental health. That's why we provide a comprehensive guide to ESA laws for rentals. Our team of experts can help you understand your legal rights and responsibilities, provide you with the necessary documents, and ensure that you and your ESA are protected.

ESA laws for rental? Well there is just the one.
The Fair Housing Act or FHA.
This act is a federal law and it says that a landlord cannot discriminate against their tenant on the basis of factors like race, color, sexual orientation and many others.

How does this work in your favor?
You need an ESA because you have some form of a mental illness. This is written in your ESA Letter. And it's nothing to be ashamed of. But the thing is this.
A mental illness qualifies as a disability under the law.

How am I protected?
Let me tell you all about the perks of keeping an ESA…

Perk #1: No Training
I mean yeah you need to train your animal. But that is just the basics.
Your landlord can’t ask you to get your animal trained SPECIALLY. If you have your real esa letterthen this means that your animal requires no training.

Perk #2: No Housing Refusal
Your landlord has no right to refuse you housing on the basis of an ESA.
If they don’t like animals then that's their problem because you are protected under the Fair Housing Act. If they have a no pet policy then you are exempted from it.

Perk #3: No Extra Rent
In some apartments, if you keep a pet then you have to pay extra rent. This doesn’t happen with an ESA but your landlord might try to trick you into paying them anyway.
So, you need to know that there is no need for you to pay extra rent just because you have an ESA.

Perk #4: No Problem with Insurance
Let's say that your landlord is not insured against ESAs. It is possible. Some landlords don’t even know what an ESA is.
But even if they are not insured, you get to keep your ESA. Your landlord can’t deny you housing or throw you out if they are not insured. But keep in mind that you will have to pay for any damages that your animal causes.

But this does not mean a landlord can’t deny you.
Yes they can and here are some of the reasons they might.

Reason #1: No ESA Letter
If you claim to have an ESA then you must have the letter proving it. After all, an animal living with you without this letter is just a regular pet. They don’t have any rights.
So, if you can’t give this letter as evidence then your landlord can tell you to give away your pet or leave the house.

Reason #2: Animal is Illegal
Some animals are illegal in certain states.
So, if your ESA is an animal that is illegal in your state then your landlord can deny housing to you. This does not happen often as you won’t even get an ESA letter for an illegal animal.

Reason #3: ESA is Destructive
Property damages.
If your ESA damages the property of the landlord then the landlord can and most probably will have the ESA thrown out. In this case, it doesn’t matter that you have the letter.

Reason #4: Animal is Aggressive
Aggressive animals are a threat to us all.
They could bite the landlord. They could attack other tenants. Heck, they could even kill a kid if they bite the child in the wrong place.

That’s all folks.
This is all that comes under the FHA.
So, choose your ESA carefully and make sure to get your letter. You can easily get an ESA letter by going to an ESA website online.