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I already have 2 dogs.we recently bought a townhouse and found out that there was more to the hoa than we thought.we didnt know that they could tell u how many pets u could own or tell u what u. an or cant do on your property.thanks goodness u can have 2 pets or we would have walked away from this place.nobody disclosed all the truth about the hoa ampng other things.if they had we wouldnt be buying this place.i need a letter for my 2 dogs just in case because it states in the hoa bylaws that if your pets become a nuisance such as barking to mich etc.they can make u get rid of them and there is no way I’m doing that.wanna have my bases covered because I dont know what I would do without paisley and molly.my pcp is treating me for depression and anxiety.had been for a while.ive had major depression since I was a kid and my dogs help a lot with it.
Would a townhouse count as a single family accommodation??
They can’t be a nuisance or disbehaved. If they are service animals they should be properly trained…
ESA are there to be emotional supports. My ESAs are ESAs because they are too neurotic to be service dogs. I have PTSD, bipolar, generalized anxiety disorder, and my chihuahuas are the two things that bring me comfort. They get me out of bed. So when I leave my family to go live in a apartment, should my 16 year old chihuahua or my 6 year old chihuahua go to the pound because they aren’t used to apartment life and make a bit too much noise when I am not home? ESAs aren’t held to the same standards as service dogs, there just has to be a therapeutic use for them in a paitents everyday life.
Just my 2 cents. This is why we have so many homeless pets. Over the years more and more landlords refuse pets. I understand to some degree but charge an extra security fee in case of damage or some other agreement. It is a serious problem across the country if not the world. But there’s been factual studies showing a difference in children that have pets, many positive attributes, even for adults. (Bare in mind that these are families who treat pets well). Now so many have to move because of the economy or other reasons and they have to leave their pets… because shelters always say there’s a fee for surrendering your pet, but most people don’t know that a lot of them won’t make you pay it if you can’t so people leave and have no other options. Sad state of affairs…
I should be getting an apartment and my ESA doggy soon. Best wishes to all of you struggling out there!
I have been trying to find housing for me and my medically trained seizure alert sefvice dog. But eveyone is deniing me even with paperwork. What can i do?
You are not obligated to tell anyone about your service dog/ pets. After you sign you’re lease have your dr write a letter stating that you need your service dog. You don’t have to disclose what disabilities you may have…
If you have proper legal certification stating that it is your seizure alert service dog they cannot deny you by law…Contact the ADA and get them involved. People that deny you can face stiff penalties
My landlord just stopped by an seen my dogs I told him via text I have an esa letter he told me they only allow service dogs that have been specially trained
Can he kick me out
Mine just did the same thing
No. You can train your own service dog and as long as they provide a service to you they can not ask for any documentation beyond your word. They can not even ask what tasks they provide. All they can ask is if they are indeed a service dog. Law!!!
Not true at all. As far as associations such as HOA or COA, legally can request certification in the case of a service anima, or an ESA letter from a doctor stating that the animal is required for a specific need.
Move into a place and start paying rent and change utilities power to my name if they don’t want to rent to me because I’m Section 8 and tell me they’ve rented it but in fact they have not? What may happen if I move in they just move in 10 Utilities in my name and send them a check I give them a check
I filled out application for HUD and wrote my diagnosis and that I have a bird and puppy, the housing took a 200$ pet deposit and I paid rent in full,,,a month and half later I get a letter telling me only my bird is on application but not puppy that I have to get rid of puppy asap,can they legally do this if I have a ESA letter written after I get the notice! I cannot choose these are my babies all I have
Nope, if your therapist wrote both animals on the letter and they accepted it, they are going against the ADA. I would draft up a letter and consult a lawyer, most lawyers will do a free consultation for free.
My therapist wrote me a letter my landlord is giving one day to have dog out. What should I do
The landlord can’t do that I’m going through the same thing
They can’t do that. I am suing right now because of similar actions and my dog is still with me
File a complaint on each place you’re denied.
Providing you meet the necessary terms of the rental as others would, especially if you don’t tell them up front. If you don’t tell the landlord until you are approved and being asked to sign the lease and suddenly your apartment is back on the rental list…file. DFEH or HUD. It’s becoming
The condo association where I live has a rule for all animals over 1 years old. They have to be spayed or neutered. My ESA was accepted by the board but they’re saying that moving in is contingent upon me getting the procedure done. Do I have to get my ESA neutered?
You dont legally have to tell them you have a service dog until after you sign a lease
Exactly. That rules out the possibility of them denying you for “another reason” so if you don’t tell them until AFTER the lease if signed or at signing (turn a recorder on) and they retaliate or don’t want to sign it anymore, you have your case and the defense has no argument. You just won yourself a lot of money cause they want to have big heads and violate federal law that they think they’re above.
Hire a lawyer On contingency and sue the CRAP out of them. But a house with that money 🙂 they can’t win that lawsuit. They’re in direct violation of the ADA and fair housing act. That’s federal law. These people won’t learn until we make them.
Just how much money do you think is appropriate for denying an application? Most lawyers aren’t willing to take these nickel and dime cases. It’s a waste of their time when they can sue for big bucks on other types of cases. So many people are using fraudulent letters they’ve gotten off the internet.
The landlord agent is refusing to accept three of my animals that are my ESA animals what do I do
I have an ESA I am going to move into a house and they said no pets. I haven’t told them about my ESA and I am afraid to because I am afraid they will deny us. If I don’t tell them about My ESA and they find out and try to evict can they if it’s an ESA? I don’t want to tell them because then they won’t let me rent the house.
Landloard won’t accept 3 of your animals? Do you need an emotional support zoo? You are one of the people abusing the benefit that so many of us really need. It will be people like you that cause the rules to be changed. Landlords are just trying to protect their investment. Animals “can” cause tremendous damage to a property. The more animals, the more risk. Be reasonable!
I have a letter from my doctor for an ESA. I rent – the board says “no pets for renters”. They said they know what the fair housing act says but the answer is still “no”. He told me the call from the board president is a courtesy call & if I asked for their response in writing or pursued the issue anymore – I would be responsible for their legal fees. Also – I recently found out that there are other renters who have dogs. Are they discriminating? What would be my next step?
I have 2 ESA’s one is almost 15 and the other one is around 4. I got the younger one to help me through the passing of the older one when the time comes. She’s also smaller so it’s easier for me to travel with her and if she gets injured I can actually carry her. It is possible and not totally unreasonable to have multiple ESA’s if they all serve a different purpose or are at different stages in their lives.
That’s is unfair for someone to say that you don’t need emotional zoo. Do not allow someone to discriminate are timid you for their ignorance and lack of knowledge of what you need. The true ignorance is the one who is texting the message to you. I had three emotional service animal but they did serve purposes and needs. One was not capable to do the other necessary things that I needed to support my depression and anxiety. No one has a right to tell you that you’re destroying the system they’re destroying the system by talking about nothing that they have no right did you determine what you need. they do not know your circumstances and it’s absolutely ludicrous get off their backs and mind your own business. the devil always out there trying to hurt someone who’s already having a hard time.
That’s a true and false statement. I have a 3 yr.old pit bull 1 yr.old cat which my 11 year old son rescued she was 3 months at the time. And we have a 2 yr old cat who is a yr and half . We got him at 4months. They have not damaged clawed anything . It’s all in the training.
My apartment has a 2animal limit and i have a letter from mental esa letter saying i need it for anxiety, ptsd and im on disability for the same problems and my apartment is saying i have to get rid of one of my other animals to get the esa animal is this illegal i live in ga
Not sure if you already have this resolved but an ESA is not considered a pet and thus can not count towards that limit, by law
Does anyone know the law if your living in a apartment that a program (ywca) leases the the apartment from the owner,that also helps pay a portion of your rent if I would still be able to have my emotional support dog,I have a letter and I’m disabled due to severe depression.The ywca program helps woman transition into their leased housing for which they pay part of rent. I live in a five family apartment in which the owner does NOT reside on the property.
I am in Schenectady ny.and I’m disabled do to depression.I recently got a pup and I’ve got a letter to have her as emotional support dog,my question is the apartment I live in is leased by a organization (ywca) from the owner of that 5 dwelling home from which landlord does not reside.Due to this apartment and ywca(they help woman after DV to transition after leaving the DV shelter) can the ywca that pays partial rent deni me? I’ve been without her (dog) for over 4 months and my depression is getting bad from not having her….I need help!!!
i currently live with several other roommates in a house for the last year. I’ve recently felt that having an emotional support animal for my well being and also for diabetes alert purposes would be advantageous. If I am able to get a therapist approval for a certified dog, is my landlord required to allow this dog even if my roommates do not want the dog?
We all signed a rental lease for 3 years and at the time of signing, we did not have any pets. The lease I signed states ” unless otherwise provided in CA civil code 54.2, pets not allowed”
A couple of my roommates say they are fearful of dogs, so they do not want a dog in the house. What are my rights in this situation?
Look for another place to live. Don’t try to force your dog on your roomates. That is unfair to them.
Just my opinion, but it seems disrespectful to your roommates to get a dog against their wishes. It would also put them at risk if the landlord objected. Many people like me are allergic to dogs. In my experience, dog owners do not walk or exercise them enough. They become inured to the smell of dogs that other people find offensive. If you are not respectful of your roomies, you should move.
We are trying to get ESA letter for our fish tanks for our anxiety. While there isn’t any weight restrictions for dogs, is there a gallon limit for fish? Our apartment is trying to make us get rid of our tanks or put our fish in 25 gallon tanks and our fish are too big. Wondering if the letter will help our situation because the foundation of the building is concrete and they’re more concerned about water spilling than the floor caving in.
Hello, we have lived at our single family residence for 24 months as of march 31st 2019. We have recently signed to renew our lease for an additional 12 months, which begins on april 1st of this year. We have an authorized pet on our lease for 24 months and on the recently renewed lease. We have also recently applied for an esa and have been excepted by a licensed esa therapist. The animal is a female pit bull breed. We have recently sent an email containing the esa letter from the therapist and an additional letter from ourselves requesting that we have an additional animal on our lease for the next 12 months. We wish to have both our current authorized pet on the lease and our esa dog. Are we within in our florida law? Can they deny us the right to have the esa dog? The esa dog has not current or prior incidents associated. It has never been a threat to another animal or person.
Thank you and we hope for your advice.
There are some exemptions from the law. One is if your landlord rents the single family house themselves.
Housing covered by the Fair Housing Act
All types of housing, including public housing, are covered by the FHA except: 1. Rental dwellings of four or less units, where one unit is occupied by the owner; 2. Single family homes sold or rented by the owner without the use of a broker; 3. Housing owned by private clubs or religious organizations that restrict occupancy in housing units to their members.
I live in a four house dwelling what to do with a esa. But what if the landlord doesn’t live there
My daughter has an ESA documented dog with a letter from her Psychiatrist. She was just admitted to college and they have denied her ESA even though they state they allow ESA’s on campus dorms. I had to write a letter of appeal along with all documentation with a letter from her MD. They denied her and stated I have to write another letter of appeal to the board. I have obtained a shared apartment that will allow her ESA. They will not allow her to live off campus as a Freshman. What are my options. They said this is my last appeal that i can file. I want them to allow her to live off campus as her preference. Any suggestions?
I got an ESA letter online from a certified medical doctor and my landlord denied it saying they want a letter from a local doctor not one from online. What can I do at this point.
I live in Maine in section 8 housing. I got a service dog but now my landlord is saying their insurance may refuse to insure her breed, in which case they will have to evict me if I keep her. Is this legal for then to do?
If it is a service dog (and not an emotional support dog) yes, it is illegal. There are no breed exceptions when it comes to service dogs. Contact your local general attorney’s office to handle the matter.
I don’t understand why people want to own dogs in other peoples properties where the landlord says no. If you want to own a dog. Find a place where the landlord agrees to having pets or buy your own place. It should be that simple. Most people don’t know how to take care of themselves and their families let alone care for a pet. I think this is ridiculous! My opinion.
You’ve obviously never tried to find housing with animals/pets.
Service and ESAs are not considered pets but more like tools and treatment plans.
Sometimes that’s all that’s available especially in someones price range work and school area (not always so easy to switch in some cases, and some may need housing pronto like myself rn, its been hell. disabled people are poor and struggle enough.. among other things. it’s just not always THAT SIMPLE it should be, but it isnt. They refuse to allow loans for low credit scores (mines because ive never had to do anything with it like that such as bills lmao not my fault. shrugs) and again, disabled people are poor as is so what makes you think they’ll have money for that down payment right away? and considering many live pay check topaycheck many may never be able to save up in time. you just dont know. there’s SO many factors situations and circumstances that can affect this, have some sympathy.
Veeda: Simple? I don’t think so. Many people can’t afford to buy their own place and most landlords do not allow pets. Not simple at all!
I call BS on this. I have moved all over the USA and 90% of the properties allow dogs (in fact, it’s cats most people don’t allow because they claw up the carpet). Landlords have incentive to allow them because it increases their renter pool.
The problem is people wanting to have their cake and eat it too. They demand they need to have one of the only breeds restricted on the property and then whine about it. You don’t have to get a restricted breed for an ESA. You don’t have to even get a dog, that is a personal decision. No one forced your hand.
Putting poorly thought personal choices on the majority is such blatant entitlement.
Also some people have totally gotten their animals in by taking advantage of the law,anyone can say they need one…BUT I’m currently fighting for my rights,I moved into a apartment after 90 days demestic violence shelter with their housing program,I am disabled and have many years of medical records to back me up,gave them letter and accommodation letter and because people are taking advantage of this they still are denying my rights.I have depression and anxiety,take meds and having been hospitalized and have had ECT treatment and I need my dog,shes all I have…its so wrong to deny someone who is totally in the right.I know a woman who has taking advantage of it and has 5 dogs including a pit bull,they are in cages day thru night,they are only let out to go bathroom 2× day and when she breeds them to make money.They give the dogs horse treatment mixed in food that builds muscle so their dogs look “tough” so people will buy the pups after seeing parents of pup.its completely messed up and sad.they got scolded if the go to bathroom in crate and I have seen them sit in their crate without going out for many hours.
My landlord just sold the house he didn’t live in it now the new buyer will live here , what do I do about my esa dog
Call a lawyer and have them write a strongly worded letter to your landlord or report your landlord. That’s not a legit reason to deny an ESA letter if they are a LMHP from your state.
My landlord does similar stuff, he hates nun esa’s but I have a letter so 🤷♀️
I have lived in an apartment for a few years.
They dont allow pets.
I have recently been given a letter from my therapist stating my ferrets are emotional support animals.
Can he evict me or charge me extra for having them?
I have a question. I have a ESA dog for 6 years. Where I’m moving dont allow dogs. They are going to let me have her but if she barks to much they will tell me to get rid of her or we have to leave. I dont think this is right but I need help
I understand the need for ESAs, but as a landlord, I also see people abusing the online certification. I have had tenants use this to bypass my “no pets” rule. There has to be a resolution where both parties are accommodated and satisfied. Right now, as a landlord, I am screwed. And my tenants know this. Personally, I provide a lovely home and am very fair to my tenants, and now that I have been back-ended by them, I am not happy. So much for treating people with respect and they respect you in return.
My landlord refused my ESA for not having a rabies shot, she is too young to have the shot as she is only 10 weeks. Do they have the right to refuse my ESA?
Just have your vet write a letter stating they don’t do rabies shots until the dog is ______ months old.
I have an ESA dog and my landlord is still requiring me to pay for the fee and they said I have to have the dog neutered if not the dog has to leave the premises. Is this allowed? They wont even accept my rent payment because I refuse to pay for the dog fee since I have an ESA. She says it can take up to 2 weeks to verify the ESA paperwork so she wont accept the rent. In the meantime, she charging me $5. per day for the rent being late. I wonder if this is legal?
Does a letter from my primary care ARNP count?
Also I’m staying with my grandmother for a few months against Section 8 and her apartment complex rules about additional people living here. We have a doctor’s note for that because we’re here until she’s strong enough to live alone after having been hospitalized for a stroke. She’s allowed one animal, which she has already.
What I wanna know is: After we’ve got legal permission to stay, can I use my letter from my doctor to keep MY ESA with me? My doctor said to sneak mine in and only show the letter if needed but I don’t want to cause problems.
What if you own the trailer but rent the lot???can the lot owner evict over a emotiona support animal??
I am researching renting a condo in Florida where they typically have a no pet policy. I have an emotional support letter from my therapist. The realtor said I would need a doctor’s letter, and I am wondering if they want proof of vaccination. I refuse to vaccinate my 12 yr old cat, and she never goes outside. Can they require proof of vaccination?
Reading all this is fascinating and makes me wonder what would happen if I were in a situation where I was being forced to rent to someone with an animal. I go into a panic if one comes near me, a dog or cat, so I guess I’d have to sell my property.
The law can create conundrums like this, it’s always one person’s rights against another’s. I feel for people who need these animals, but if I had to live in proximity to an animal I’d wind up in the top floor of an insane asylum!
I cannot understand all of this “NO PETS” POLICY. dogs can be annoying with their barking and their humans not being responsible poop scoopers-BUT CATS !!! ???
one pays security for whatever isn’t that enough. even if they allow with a 1 time non refundable fee, but NONE AT ALL ???
this is why all the shelters are overwhelmed with pets, no one will adopt because of these horrible landlords !!!
why are we paying rent to live in a prison ?
Pets can cause thousands and thousands of dollars in damages if not trained or the owners are not responsible. Security and pet deposits often do not cover the restoration costs and the property owners can often be forced to recover costs through civil proceedings which is no guarantee the owner will be made whole.
Horrible tenants are the reason landlords don’t want to rent to irresponsible pet owners. I rented my condo to someone for two years, when I went to inspect the property, all of the hardwood flooring had to be removed, sheetrock had to replaced on walls as well as floor molding. The stench was so bad I had to call a restoration company to make it livable, I had a $2000 deposit but it cost the former tenant another $10,000 to get it back in it’s original condition. I’m allergic to smokers, cats and some breeds of dogs. I’ll never rent to another smoker or pet owner. The cat sprayed a disgusting odor and the dogs urinated on walls, molding and flooring.
Shelters are at full capacity thanks to irresponsible pet owners. People who want animals should be homeowners so they can destroy their own property.
I have provided a copy of the script from my son’s therapist office in 2017 for my son to have our dog. They are now requiring yet another prescription form and if not provided they said we have to get rid of our dog. While he has since been out of therapy, I was able to get a script from his pediatrician who has all his records from therapy and now they are saying the want the original and won’t accept a copy. Is this even legal?
Tell them to contact her directly , this is illegal.
It is acceptable for a landlord to ask for a letter that is dated less than one year ago from a medical professional. To simplify the entire process, I would recommend ensuring the medical professionals writes the letter on their company letterhead with their medical license number as well.
I’m thinking of moving in with my boyfriend. The apartment he lives in has a no pets policy. I have ptsd. My name is not on the lease. Can he deny my dog even if I can provide the paperwork needed?
go buy a house, no more rent, no more restrictions.
If your dogs are barking too much then they can still deny them even with an ESA letter. You need to stop your dogs from barking excessively, then you have nothing to worry about.
I live in an apartment and I have an ESA pet. I have anxiety issues but instead of meds I prefer a natural solution. I gave the realtors my ESA certifications because the landlord says no pets allowed. Well I got something in the mail that says because it’s an online letter that they declined it. They’ve also stated that it’s not acceptable in online nor out of state form. Is that even legal? I’m active duty and my job is stressful enough. I’d like to come home to something that’s much more of a stress relief than let my work consume me even at home.
My apologies I live in a townhome. I’m so used to saying apartment.
My leasing office finally said I can have my ESA and he is being trained as a service dog, but they also said it can’t be the one I currently have because other tenants are scared of him! I have had him for 9 months.
Is this legal?
(Location: CA) My husband contacted our landlord and showed her my ESA letter. Which she accepted. My landlord says it’s alright to have a dog but our dog has to be 10 lbs or less… I have a small puppy beagle who will not get any bigger than 25 lbs. we also have to pay a one-time fee of $300. Can the landlord do this? And deny the size, weight, and gender of our dog?
No they can’t charge you any fee or say the dog has to be under 10lbs. They also can’t tell you the dog has to be a certain gender or breed. That they Can get in trouble for.
Is my ESA letter also valid if I show it to my landlord AFTER he found out I have an dog, or does my dog lose ESA status if I don’t tell my landlord until he finds out. My landlord is never around, so chances are small for him to find out. I did say in an email and phone call that I am not allowed to have a dog. Even if I had an ESA letter, he would not allow it, I know that. And I don’t want to spend lots of money for a lawyer and don’t want to be kicked out of my apartment.
If not telling him is not an option, can I send him the ESA letter before I get a dog? I don’t want to buy a dog, then my landlord denies it and then have to give back the dog.
That’s not true. There’s no law stating how many esa you can have. Look up under…. esa laws
Do I have to pay a pet fee for my ESA? The building owners in my place are saying that they dont believe in “emotional support animals” and are saying that I have to pay the fee. PLEASE HELP!
No, you should be exempt from all fees with an emotional support animal. It is illegal for them to charge you fees for having an ESA.
I live in a Condo and there’a No dog rule in the pool area. It just so happens that the mail box is also in the pool area. so to get my mail daily (which the HOA requires) so when i get my mail with my dog, i get threats from the HOA for bringing my dog into the pool area.
I have ESA letter and a registered pet. Because I had to move into my son’s rented trailer the landlord is not allowing me to have my pet. He is putting me on lease but doesn’t want my dog. He said he would evict. I suffer from PTSD depression and anxiety and my dog is my lifesaver. I am heartbroken as we are separated right now so I don’t get my son evicted. What can I do? I am 65 years old.
I have my letter from my doctor, my esa is a 40 pound Carolina dog. The landlord is trying to tell me that, even with my documentation, they can deny my esa if a neighbor says the dog scares them. Just by looks, they used the example “if you had a pit bull and your neighbor was afraid of them we couldn’t allow it”. My dog has never even barked, let alone shown any aggression of any kind. Are they allowed to deny her for this reason?