Potential tenant has a emotional support dog

[Anonymous]

OP you can never be totally sure that you’re getting a low-maintenance tenant. I know people with emotional support animals and I don’t think any of them actually *need* them (we aren’t talking veterans), but it’s not like their landlords would ever know anything about their personality. I have been a pain in the ass for my landlords because I’m an attorney (and my husband is too). Outside of somebody being unemployed, being an attorney is probably the biggest red flag out there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP- I guess I am more concern about the tenant itself. His finance is good and his gf is also moving in as well. But will he be emotional problem for me?? LOL

Not a landlord, but I manage a team at work and I will say what I would only say anonymously. People with emotional support animals (as opposed to a seeing eye dog or a seizure / blood sugar alert dog) are more likely to be entitled, high maintenance, and emotionally draining.

Should I share this with my son? His best friend was blown up in front of him. He carried the body parts back to their base. He has an emotional support dog and it’s made a huge difference in his PTSD. She is a German Shepherd. Somehow she just knows when he needs her. She climbs onto him and covers him with her body.

He is not entitled, high maintenance, or emotionally draining. He is hurting.

But would he ask for the pet fee to be waived?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hi, I need some advice on this. My potential tenant has a emotional support dog and want to waive the pet fee which I am fine with it. But is there anything I need to worry about if I rent it to him? I am not familiar with this type of issue. Will he cause a problem on my house? or my community?

thanks.

There isn't any such thing. Just so you know.

[Anonymous]

What is an Emotional Support Animal (ESA)?
An Emotional Support Animal (ESA) is an animal that provides therapeutic benefit (e.g., emotional support, comfort, companionship) to a person with a mental health or psychiatric disability (such as a serious mental health condition). An ESA is not considered a Service Animal, but under U.S. law, an emotional support animal is also not considered a pet and is generally not restricted by the type of animal.1, 2 Any domesticated animal may be considered as an ESA (e.g., cats, dogs, mice, rabbits, birds, hedgehogs, rats, minipigs, ferrets, etc.) and they can be any age. However, an ESA must be able to be manageable in public and does not create a nuisance.

ESA’s do not perform specific tasks, instead it is the presence of the animal that relieves the symptoms associated with a person’s serious mental health condition. For a person to legally have an emotional support animal (ESA), the owner must be considered to have a qualifying mental health or psychiatric disability by a licensed mental health professional (e.g., therapist, psychologist, psychiatrist, etc.), which is documented by a properly formatted prescription letter. The difference between a legitimate ESA and a pet is the letter from your licensed mental health professional.

https://www.umassmed.edu/TransitionsACR/resources/emotional-support-animals-101/

YIKES. Can you ask him for the letter to prove it? I'd want proof to waive any fees. And if he can't produce one, then he's a liar.

[Anonymous]

Is any dog NOT an emotional support dog?

[Anonymous]

What's a dog that isn't emotionally supportive? I mean isn't that the point of a dog?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is any dog NOT an emotional support dog?

OMG jinx!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is any dog NOT an emotional support dog?

OMG jinx!

OK just creepy. We said the same thing at the exact same minute. It's like we have ESPN or something.

[Anonymous]

AKC says this. Make him produce the letter.

https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/news/everything-about-emotional-support-animals/

Housing Accommodations for Individuals Who Use Emotional Support Dogs

Individuals who use ESAs are provided certain accommodations under federal law in the areas of housing and air travel. The Fair Housing Act includes ESAs in its definition of assistance animals. Under the act, people cannot be discriminated against due to a disability when obtaining housing. Rules such as pet bans or restrictions are waived for people who have a prescription for an ESA, and they cannot be charged a pet deposit for having their ESA live with them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP- I guess I am more concern about the tenant itself. His finance is good and his gf is also moving in as well. But will he be emotional problem for me?? LOL

Not a landlord, but I manage a team at work and I will say what I would only say anonymously. People with emotional support animals (as opposed to a seeing eye dog or a seizure / blood sugar alert dog) are more likely to be entitled, high maintenance, and emotionally draining.

Should I share this with my son? His best friend was blown up in front of him. He carried the body parts back to their base. He has an emotional support dog and it’s made a huge difference in his PTSD. She is a German Shepherd. Somehow she just knows when he needs her. She climbs onto him and covers him with her body.

He is not entitled, high maintenance, or emotionally draining. He is hurting.

The vets I know with PTSD have their dogs registered as service animals because such dogs have undergone training.

https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2021/11/26/1045708726/more-veterans-with-ptsd-will-soon-get-help-from-service-dogs-thank-the-paws-act#:~:text=Music%20Of%202021-,New%20law%20will%20allow%20more%20vets%20with%20PTSD%20to%20get,with%20symptoms%20of%20traumatic%20stress.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP- I guess I am more concern about the tenant itself. His finance is good and his gf is also moving in as well. But will he be emotional problem for me?? LOL

Not a landlord, but I manage a team at work and I will say what I would only say anonymously. People with emotional support animals (as opposed to a seeing eye dog or a seizure / blood sugar alert dog) are more likely to be entitled, high maintenance, and emotionally draining.

Should I share this with my son? His best friend was blown up in front of him. He carried the body parts back to their base. He has an emotional support dog and it’s made a huge difference in his PTSD. She is a German Shepherd. Somehow she just knows when he needs her. She climbs onto him and covers him with her body.

He is not entitled, high maintenance, or emotionally draining. He is hurting.

The vets I know with PTSD have their dogs registered as service animals because such dogs have undergone training.

https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2021/11/26/1045708726/more-veterans-with-ptsd-will-soon-get-help-from-service-dogs-thank-the-paws-act#:~:text=Music%20Of%202021-,New%20law%20will%20allow%20more%20vets%20with%20PTSD%20to%20get,with%20symptoms%20of%20traumatic%20stress.

This.

PP, your son's friend has a pet. Which is fine, but it's not a service animal. He is, however, able to get his pet trained and certified as a service animal, which is the best thing to do for everyone.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP- I guess I am more concern about the tenant itself. His finance is good and his gf is also moving in as well. But will he be emotional problem for me?? LOL

Not a landlord, but I manage a team at work and I will say what I would only say anonymously. People with emotional support animals (as opposed to a seeing eye dog or a seizure / blood sugar alert dog) are more likely to be entitled, high maintenance, and emotionally draining.

Should I share this with my son? His best friend was blown up in front of him. He carried the body parts back to their base. He has an emotional support dog and it’s made a huge difference in his PTSD. She is a German Shepherd. Somehow she just knows when he needs her. She climbs onto him and covers him with her body.

He is not entitled, high maintenance, or emotionally draining. He is hurting.

Your example shows why there needs to be a middle designation between support animal for medical reasons and emotional support animal because someone just thinks they need one. Your son clearly needs a support animal like this and thank goodness he has found this support. But we all know there are people that abuse the ESA designation. Maybe the service animal designation needs to be expanded to include documented cases of PTSD/trauma.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP- I guess I am more concern about the tenant itself. His finance is good and his gf is also moving in as well. But will he be emotional problem for me?? LOL

Not a landlord, but I manage a team at work and I will say what I would only say anonymously. People with emotional support animals (as opposed to a seeing eye dog or a seizure / blood sugar alert dog) are more likely to be entitled, high maintenance, and emotionally draining.

Should I share this with my son? His best friend was blown up in front of him. He carried the body parts back to their base. He has an emotional support dog and it’s made a huge difference in his PTSD. She is a German Shepherd. Somehow she just knows when he needs her. She climbs onto him and covers him with her body.

He is not entitled, high maintenance, or emotionally draining. He is hurting.

Your example shows why there needs to be a middle designation between support animal for medical reasons and emotional support animal because someone just thinks they need one. Your son clearly needs a support animal like this and thank goodness he has found this support. But we all know there are people that abuse the ESA designation. Maybe the service animal designation needs to be expanded to include documented cases of PTSD/trauma.

PP here - I didn't see the other two posts right before mine! There is the answer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What is an Emotional Support Animal (ESA)?
An Emotional Support Animal (ESA) is an animal that provides therapeutic benefit (e.g., emotional support, comfort, companionship) to a person with a mental health or psychiatric disability (such as a serious mental health condition). An ESA is not considered a Service Animal, but under U.S. law, an emotional support animal is also not considered a pet and is generally not restricted by the type of animal.1, 2 Any domesticated animal may be considered as an ESA (e.g., cats, dogs, mice, rabbits, birds, hedgehogs, rats, minipigs, ferrets, etc.) and they can be any age. However, an ESA must be able to be manageable in public and does not create a nuisance.

ESA’s do not perform specific tasks, instead it is the presence of the animal that relieves the symptoms associated with a person’s serious mental health condition. For a person to legally have an emotional support animal (ESA), the owner must be considered to have a qualifying mental health or psychiatric disability by a licensed mental health professional (e.g., therapist, psychologist, psychiatrist, etc.), which is documented by a properly formatted prescription letter. The difference between a legitimate ESA and a pet is the letter from your licensed mental health professional.

https://www.umassmed.edu/TransitionsACR/resources/emotional-support-animals-101/

YIKES. Can you ask him for the letter to prove it? I'd want proof to waive any fees. And if he can't produce one, then he's a liar.

My acupuncturist says my emotional support raccoon (who loves to burrow in drywall) keeps me centered. Suck on it landlords

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I wouldn’t waive the pet fee personally. I would be ok renting to them though.

You cannot charge a pet fee for an emotional support dog.

That said, I would be leery of renting to someone who needs an emotional support dog.