Renting with an ESA: What you need to know?

Renting with an ESA… exactly what does this mean?

It means that you have an ESA, an animal that supports you emotionally, and that you are living in a rented apartment.

The place is not yours, you have a landlord and you have an animal living in the landlord’s house. Yeah. You see how THAT can be a problem? I bet you do.

So, if you are renting with an ESA, then there are many things that you need to know. I bet you know about the ESA letter for housing. It's a letter that you need to prove that the animal that you have is an ESA and not a pet.

At realesaletter, we pride ourselves on being the premier provider of emotional support animal (ESA) letter services in the United States. Our team of licensed mental health professionals is dedicated to providing you with a legitimate ESA letter that is recognized by landlords, airlines, and other entities.

What sets us apart is our personalized approach to serving your needs. We take the time to understand your unique situation, whether you're in Florida, Colorado, or Illinois, and provide you with a customized letter that meets your specific requirements.

At realesaletter.com, we value your privacy and understand the importance of keeping your personal information confidential. That's why we have designed our service to be discreet, and you can be assured that your data is secure.

Apart from this letter, there are certain things and a few laws or regulations that you should be aware of. Why?

So, that you know about your rights and responsibilities. 
Well, here are your rights…

Right #1: You Can’t Be Thrown Out

This is your very basic right. If you have an ESA letter then your landlord can’t throw you out. And this applies to your ESA as well.

But remember the condition here… as long as you have that letter. If you do not have the letter and claim the animal as an ESA, then no landlord has to listen to you.
So, get that letter fast.

Right #2: You Don’t Have to Pay a Fee

Some landlords will demand a fee for keeping animals in the house. Well, since your animal is an ESA and you have an emotional support animal letter, you don’t have to pay a fee. Actually asking for one would be illegal.

Since this would constitute as discrimantion based on your disability. So, if your landlord asks for a fee then you have every right to say no.

Right #3: You Don’t Have to Change Your ESA

Other landlords will try to impose restrictions.
They will say that you can’t keep your ESA because it's too big or because it's from the wrong breed. Well, you don’t have to listen to this either. Federal law forbids any landlord from imposing restrictions like these.

Trust me, you are well and truly protected. So, there is no need to give in.

Right #4: You Are Exempt from Pet Policies

There are many pet policies.

One policy says that you can’t have more than two or three pets. Another one says that you can’t live with pets if there is a no-pet policy in your apartment complex.
But guess what? An ESA is not a pet. Legally, speaking. So, these rules? They don't apply to your little animal. You can keep your ESA wherever you want to.

Right #5: You Rights Apply in MOST Cases

Here is the catch.
There are some apartments and houses where these laws don’t apply. Small houses or apartment complexes that have four or less units with the landlord living in one unit. These types of houses are NOT covered under federal law.

So, best stay clear of them or you can get into an argument with the landlord.
And your responsibilities are as follows…

Responsibility #1: Your ESA Has to be Well-Groomed

This means that it must have short hair, short nails and it must be checked for diseases.
It cannot have any bugs or fleas in its hair. Best have a medical checkup to make sure that no internal diseases are found either. All of this is to make sure that you, or your ESA, do not end up infecting someone else in the building.

Responsibility #2: Your ESA HAS to be Well-Behaved

This is for everyone’s safety.
By well-behaved, I mean that your ESA cannot have any aggressive tendencies. Sure, they can be aggressive if they are defending you but they can’t go around biting people.
If that is the case then you won’t even get that letter and there is no way a wild animal can stay in an apartment complex with loads of strangers who might agitate the creature.

Responsibility #3: You ESA Can’t Damage the Property

Your landlord has every right to throw out your ESA if the animal causes a lot of damage to the property.
You might be paying the rent but the house still belongs to your landlord. It’s their property and they have every right to protect it. So, unless you are rich enough to pay for the damages, you need to ensure that your ESA does not cause any damage to the building.

Responsibility #4: Your ESA Must Be Obedient

Like I said, your ESA can be aggressive when they defend you.
But what if they misread the threat? You will need to call your animal back in such a situation. And if they are not obedient then an innocent person can get hurt.

So, when you train your ESA, make sure that they adhere to your commands. No matter what.

Responsibility #5: You Must Tell Your Landlord

You can’t rent with your ESA without your landlord knowing. I get your hesitation. You don’t want others to discriminate against you.

But believe me, most landlords are very accommodating. They know about the laws and are not willing to risk breaking them, even if they don’t like animals.

At times, landlords might not know about the laws in which case you can guide them.
I am sure nothing will go wrong.

As long as you have that pesky little letter.
If you don’t, then go get one on an immediate basis. It might take a few days but you need to have the protection of federal laws on your side and the fastest way to get one is online.