Guide to Renting an Apartment With an Emotional Support Dog

Emotional support dogs are assistance dogs, which help their handlers ease mental health conditions, such as anxiety, depression, etc. Studies show that ESAs can improve mood, manage stress, loneliness, etc., thus improving the quality of life.

If you are living in a rented apartment or planning to rent one with your emotional support dog, there are various things you need to consider. Read on for more information.

What is The Fair Housing Act?

Fair Housing Act (FHA) is a federal law stating that patients with psychological disabilities are allowed to live with their emotional support animals in rented apartments in the United States. However, for this, they need not pay any extra pet deposits. The law also applies to the regions with the “no pet policy.”

By this law, property owners and landlords should ensure reasonable accommodation to tenants with emotional support animals.

Availing ESA Housing Benefits

You can legally live with your ESA. For that, you need to get an emotional support dog letter from a licensed therapist. The letter acts as proof that you are actually diagnosed with a psychological disability, which can be managed with pet therapy.

Your ESA letter must say that your companion animal is an important part of your life. It must be on the official letterhead of the therapist. Moreover, it must contain-

• Name of the therapist
• Contact details of the practice
• Name of the patient
• ESA details, such as type, breed, etc.
• Date of issuance of the letter

By law, the landlord can ask you to show your emotional support dog letter, but can’t deny you housing. 

In certain cases, your landlord may deny you housing. These include-

• If the building has four units or less, and one unit is occupied by the landlord
• Animal is too large for the accommodation
• Animal is causing damage to the property or others

So, it’s important to train your emotional support to behave appropriately in the public. Teach the basic commands, such as sit, stand, leave, etc. and live happily with your support animal.

Get Your Emotional Support Dog Letter Online

If you are receiving emotional support from your dog, you can register it as an emotional support dog. And, in this digital era, it’s very easy. At My ESA Doctor, you can apply for an emotional support dog letter online in three simple steps-

• Sign up for an account online
• See a therapist via video call
• Get an ESA letter in PDF via email

In conclusion, living with an ESA in a rented apartment is a straightforward process. Simply get an emotional support dog letter from a therapist and show it to your landlord. Under the Fair Housing Act, individuals with mental disabilities can legally live with their ESAs in rented apartments without paying extra pet deposits.

However, as an emotional support dog handler, you are responsible for controlling your pet. So, train it to behave appropriately in public, take it to regular walks, and groom it daily.