When I worked in a legal department for an airline, we used to have a lot of passengers who claimed that their dog was an ESA, just to avoid having to pay the pet fee. (Also, the system was abused by passengers with medium- and large-sized dogs, who would not normally be allowed in the cabin as pets.)

Then a few years ago, DOT changed the regulations, and said that airlines did NOT need to accept ESA's in the cabin any more. Instead, airlines need to accept only "service animals" which trained animals, and that can also include psychological support animals (such as animals that support veterans with PTSD).

I am not an expert (at all) on the housing situation, but I thought that housing was the one area where ESA's were still recognized. (At least for the airlines, we no longer needed to accept them. There was just too much abuse of the ESA system, and too many bad incidents.)

At its core, isn't this thread basically asking if OP should agree to rent to someone with emotional issues?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:12:17 is wrong. An emotional support dog is a pet. This is not the same as a service animal that has undergone 1-2yrs of training and been placed with an individual who has been identified and screened as needing a service dog. This is why service dogs have access to places that other animals don't - restaurants, shops, etc.

Our sweet family dog cheers me up on a bad day and snuggles with the kids if they are sick, heck that makes her an emotional support animal.

Wait so if I am severely allergic to pets, have carpet and am planning on moving back I have to rent to someone with a service pet?

Yes. You are starting a business, not inviting a friend to stay in your private home.

Actually in that case, it sounds like they’re renting a single unit, not a bunch, so the rules that govern larger landlords don’t apply.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:12:17 is wrong. An emotional support dog is a pet. This is not the same as a service animal that has undergone 1-2yrs of training and been placed with an individual who has been identified and screened as needing a service dog. This is why service dogs have access to places that other animals don't - restaurants, shops, etc.

Our sweet family dog cheers me up on a bad day and snuggles with the kids if they are sick, heck that makes her an emotional support animal.

Wait so if I am severely allergic to pets, have carpet and am planning on moving back I have to rent to someone with a service pet?

Yes. You are starting a business, not inviting a friend to stay in your private home.

Anonymous wrote:Absolutely do not waive the pet fee or deposit. Emotional support pets are not trained support animals, they can and will leave a huge mess around the house.

This. The biggest issue for me is if the renter ASKED you to waive it. If so- that is already showing they are manipulative. Not good. Love dogs and pets but get that deposit- if the ask did not scare you away.

Op, is this a building with other units whose renters signed a "pet free" lease? Aside from simple wanting to live in a pet free place there could be medical reasons why those tenant chose a pet free home. A friend's husband and child cannit toleratecpet dander at all, I've witnessed the complete allergic reaction from minor contact with pets.They would have legal ground to sue you in this case.
I would notvrent to them.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would not rent to this person if possible. They are sidling around the pet fee with emotional support animal. What other things do you think they will try ? Also fiancé: just that wouldn’t be a flag but both? What if they break up? Will they have enough to pay the rent? Too many questions for me. Pass.

You'd never rent to an unmarried couple? OK, Goody Johnson...

I rent to unmarried couples all the time in Ballston. I put a standard roommate provision in the lease that if one of them leaves the apartment both remain liable for the rent until I approve any new roommate. Lots of young women who are hoping that living together will lead to a ring and a date give me the side eye when they see that provision.

You'd think they'd instead be saying, "Oh that'll never happen."

Anonymous wrote:I’m allergic to dogs, so I get pissed when people bring their dogs everywhere. It’s not like they vacuum up behind them. I totally get actual service dogs, but emotional support dogs go a step too far.

Outside of housing, ESAs aren't very protected.

Absolutely do not waive the pet fee or deposit. Emotional support pets are not trained support animals, they can and will leave a huge mess around the house.

I’m allergic to dogs, so I get pissed when people bring their dogs everywhere. It’s not like they vacuum up behind them. I totally get actual service dogs, but emotional support dogs go a step too far.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think the concept of emotional support dog is BS. I'm a psychologist and the science is not there to support it-- our practice will not sign such letters for patients. I think the term is often used to be allowed pets in places where they're not allowed (I've seen friends use it for airplanes, apartment buildings that don't allow pets, etc) and patients ask for it to bring their pet to college. I do think it'd be incredibly messed up to reject a tenant because they have a mental illness-- doesn't mean they'll be a bad tenant at all and that's just plain discrimination.

Happy for you. But the law supports emotional support animals anyway.

OP, study up before you wind up on the short end of a lawsuit.

not sure what I said has anything to do with a lawsuit-- I didn't say to reject the dog or the tenant... just that it doesn't actually signal a mental health need for the pet. very easy to get an online letter saying you need an emotional support dog.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would not rent to this person if possible. They are sidling around the pet fee with emotional support animal. What other things do you think they will try ? Also fiancé: just that wouldn’t be a flag but both? What if they break up? Will they have enough to pay the rent? Too many questions for me. Pass.

You'd never rent to an unmarried couple? OK, Goody Johnson...

I rent to unmarried couples all the time in Ballston. I put a standard roommate provision in the lease that if one of them leaves the apartment both remain liable for the rent until I approve any new roommate. Lots of young women who are hoping that living together will lead to a ring and a date give me the side eye when they see that provision.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think the concept of emotional support dog is BS. I'm a psychologist and the science is not there to support it-- our practice will not sign such letters for patients. I think the term is often used to be allowed pets in places where they're not allowed (I've seen friends use it for airplanes, apartment buildings that don't allow pets, etc) and patients ask for it to bring their pet to college. I do think it'd be incredibly messed up to reject a tenant because they have a mental illness-- doesn't mean they'll be a bad tenant at all and that's just plain discrimination.

Happy for you. But the law supports emotional support animals anyway.

OP, study up before you wind up on the short end of a lawsuit.

That's because most legislators are nuts and need emotional support animals.

Anonymous wrote:I think the concept of emotional support dog is BS. I'm a psychologist and the science is not there to support it-- our practice will not sign such letters for patients. I think the term is often used to be allowed pets in places where they're not allowed (I've seen friends use it for airplanes, apartment buildings that don't allow pets, etc) and patients ask for it to bring their pet to college. I do think it'd be incredibly messed up to reject a tenant because they have a mental illness-- doesn't mean they'll be a bad tenant at all and that's just plain discrimination.

Happy for you. But the law supports emotional support animals anyway.

OP, study up before you wind up on the short end of a lawsuit.

I think the concept of emotional support dog is BS. I'm a psychologist and the science is not there to support it-- our practice will not sign such letters for patients. I think the term is often used to be allowed pets in places where they're not allowed (I've seen friends use it for airplanes, apartment buildings that don't allow pets, etc) and patients ask for it to bring their pet to college. I do think it'd be incredibly messed up to reject a tenant because they have a mental illness-- doesn't mean they'll be a bad tenant at all and that's just plain discrimination.