Roger Morph 
Emotional support animals have been helping people with mental health disorders for decades now. They’re great at getting rid of loneliness and easing symptoms of anxiety, depression, and even post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
While emotional support animals are great to have around the house, it’s important to know how emotional support animal laws are handled. This is especially true when it comes to an ESA and renting. The good news is that we’re here to help. In this article, we take you through everything you need to know about ESAs and renting. Read on to learn more.
What Is an Emotional Support Animal (ESA)?
An emotional support animal (ESA) is a pet that brings comfort to someone who struggles with mental health disorders. Their goal is to help people get through panic attacks, depressive episodes, loneliness, and much more. This is what makes them a great fit for people who have conditions that are serious but not serious enough for service animals.
Unlike service dogs, emotional support animals can be any type of animal, which gives you a lot of flexibility. This is what makes them more sought-after than service animals because you can register your cat if you’re not a dog person.
That said, in order to qualify for an emotional support animal, you need to have a mental health disorder and a letter written by a licensed mental health professional stating that you need an ESA to help manage your condition.
How Do You Get an ESA?
To get an ESA that follows Fair Housing Act guidelines, you need to have the pet and speak with a licensed mental health professional.
They will evaluate your condition and help you determine if an ESA is right for your situation. If they approve you for an ESA, they must write and sign a letter. You can do this in person with your therapist or use an online service like US Service Animals.
ESA and Renting Laws
Emotional support animals are allowed to live in housing that’s not usually pet-friendly, which gives them an advantage over your average pet.
However, for this to work, you need to be mindful of the ESA laws and have the proper documentation. Learn more about ESA and renting laws below.
Federal ESA and Renting Laws
It all starts with the Fair Housing Act (FHA). This act allows people to live in rental properties that have no-pet policies if they have a letter from a licensed mental health professional verifying that the animal improves the person’s condition. Once a letter is presented to a landlord, they can’t discriminate against the tenant and must allow them to remain in their apartment.
It’s also important to note that landlords can’t charge more money in rent via a pet fee because an ESA is technically not a pet. These are the basic federal laws in place for emotional support animals and renting.
State ESA and Renting Laws
Most state laws follow the Fair Housing Act’s guidelines when it comes to handling ESAs. However, there is some nuance between the states. For example, California has a unique law in place that only allows licensed mental health professionals who have had a relationship with their clients for at least 30 days to write and sign an ESA letter.
What’s more, every state is different when it comes to how landlords can evict someone with an ESA. Typically, most states have rules in place that allow landlords to take action if the ESA is damaging property, disturbing others via noise or aggression, or causing financial problems for the landlord. Therefore, it’s important to read up on the laws and make sure you’re following them properly.
Stay Informed on ESA and Renting Laws
Adopting an emotional support animal is one of the best things that you can do if you have a mental health disorder and find that your pets bring you comfort and relief. Plus, having an emotional support animal allows you to bring your companions with you to places that are otherwise not pet-friendly.
While having an ESA is great, always stay up-to-date with emotional support animal laws to make sure you’re protected. Sure, federal law doesn’t change that often, but states tend to vote on the matter more often, so make sure you keep that in mind before applying for housing or an ESA letter.
