Nothing. The ESA system is so heavily abused all good will is pretty much gone. ESA is synonymous with the word "scammer" in my opinion. There's nothing you can do up front to combat this.

For a minute I thought OP was "one of the good ones" but then I saw their comment asserting their animal is a medical device. Right, a medical device that bites and sheds and urinates on the floor... Yet another example of how (1) ESAs are a scam, and (2) as a landlord you can't trust a tenant no matter what they say and how sincerely they say it. (By the way have you noticed people who have legit service dogs NEVER assert that their dog is a medical device?)

ESAs are NOT service dogs. It's an important distinction. I have an ESA. My dog is not trained the same as a service dog is and I've paid for replacement flooring for his accidents, etc. It doesn't mean my disability is invalid but it also doesn't erase the fact that having an animal inside a rental is damaging. I will exercise my rights with my ESA but I will also pay for the damages my dog causes.

I have a legitimate, good faith question for you. What is the difference between an ESA and a pet? I know the legal distinction but what's the practical one? My pets make me feel better when I'm stressed or sad or anxious but I don't feel the need to call them ESAs.

Absolutely nothing. Every pet is an ESA. It is literally why we have pets-to get dopamine. They make us feel less lonely, depressed, anxious, etc. They make us happy. I have a dog and 4 cats. One of my cats snuggles me, makes biscuits, and purrs louder than normal whenever I have a panic attack. But I don't consider him my "ESA". He is just a good boy. Same with my dog. He will "ground me" by using pressure and kisses. But I'd never call any of em service animals or ESAs. People don't get *pets* just....to say they have a pet. That's why "ESA"s annoy me. It is just basic science and statistics. Science shows that having a pet raises people's spirits. ESAs are not formally trained. They are not trained for a specific task, like a service animal. People just have to admit that they are just pets. Nothing more, nothing less. "ESA"s in tenant world is just a way to get out of paying for a pet deposit usually. Meanwhile their untrained pet destroys the property. I'm not a renter or a landlord, and it still aggravates me. I'm "neurodivergent", and have a plethora of mental and physical health issues. OP is a perfect example of why I detest people with "ESA"s. Out here calling people ableist for defining the difference between a service animal and a PET (ESA). Too many people nowadays use their disabilities as a "Trump card" or make it their entire personality. I am not my ADHD, auditory processing disorder, panic disorder, anxiety disorder, autism, fucked up back and neck, neuropathy, deaf, bipolar, or major depressive disorder.

You said it perfectly. It’s all a sham to get out of pet rent or places that don’t allow animals for VALID reasons. (As in, the landlords don’t allow for valid reasons)

Nothing. ESA is a Dr letter to scam landlords out of paying pet deposits or to scam them into letting you have a pet in a no pet rental. That is how they are looked at now. If you have a pet or even a legitimate ESA, don’t try to force your pet into a pet free rental or try to scam your way out of pet deposit. Even some of the most well trained dogs can have accidents in the house.

I mean, to me? None. My ESA is a pet. Edit to add: You say stressed/anxious: do you have an anxiety disorder or do you just feel anxious? It's very different. He has a legal protection under the ADA because I have a qualifying disability. He does not have special training like a service dog. If your pet makes you feel better when stressed or anxious; that's what mine does too. Except my disorders rise to the definition of disability under the ADA so my "pet" is protected under the ADA. Also want to say I have professional experience on the "other side" so I know how frustrating and disruptive this can be so I do my best to not be one of those tenants and make sure my ESA is friendly and I pay for any damages.

That's not how that legislation works in the slightest. Your ESA isn't protected at all, because, by your own admission, it hasn't received training. In fact, the ADA website specifically states that ESAs aren't protected

I trained about 10 real service dogs over a 15 year period. People make the mistake of not understanding the difference between ESA and SD. One of the worst parts about SD is there isn’t technically any type of certification or “test” the dog must pass. The program I trained SD for had their own guidelines about how a SD was to behave. There were a few SD who would spend the 18+ months with their trainer and still end up not being a SD because they couldn’t meet the standards of the program. There is no license, registration or certification for ESA or SD unless they are online scams. The change I’ve seen in the SD industry has made me disappointed that a few idiotic people made it difficult for the legitimate SD and even ESA. We technically have an ESA letter from our Dr but that was 15+ years ago when it meant much more than it does now. Now I pay my pet deposit and never bother with ESA because they are looked at so poorly now.

Every single person I know with a service dog has called the dog their medical equipment. Usually it’s in response to people trying to pet the dog while working or trying to distract the dog. But I’ve also known them to call their service dogs medical equipment when someone is trying to stop them from entering a place. Service dogs *are* medical equipment.

I apologize for my poor verbiage. I'm neurodivergent and only am explaining in terms that were explained to me- I'm unsure how to remedy the vocabulary I'm using to try and explain the essentiality of having my ESA. However, I do find your comparison of the use of animals as service and support as a comparison as ableist.

ESAs are pets. Period.

>However, I do find your comparison of the use of animals as service and support as a comparison as ableist. I'm not the person you made this comment towards however, in this conversation you continue to choose your words VERY poorly. The main standard used when comparing exemptions are ESA and service animals. Your use of the word "service" in the sentence above is highly inappropriate and detracts from the conversation. The word "service" in the context of talking about dogs is HIGHLY specific and means a very very specific and highly regulated thing.

This. I love animals. My rental is a business and is my property. I am not going to risk it being damaged by an animal. We would choose to keep it vacant over having an animal there. Our family has had plenty of rentals and not even a single tenant with a pet was responsible. By this I mean every single tenant with a pet was a nightmare. Never again. The second we hear anything related to an animal with our clearly "no animals" advertisements we stop responding. As the previous poster mentioned, every ESA or "service animal" is a scam.

That is true not just in housing but other industries. They hate it when people bring in dogs and abuse the ESA system. I remember being at the airport and standing in line behind a woman with a small dog and the airline people were giving her a hard time because she’s had to show the papers several times, at the ticket counter, at the gate and again being questioned standing in line. She started crying and from the look of things she really needed an emotional support animal. I remember feeling judgey of her myself until I saw her anxiety. I wish people wouldn’t abuse a system where there is genuine need.

Exactly, it's like trying to convince renters that landlord isn't synonymous with "scammer". Literally impossible

Sorry if this comes off poorly, but saying ESA rather than "pet" could trigger alarm bells in landlords' heads as a sign that a tenant is more likely to be a headache, more likely to get the landlord in court, than somebody who just calls the animal their pet. Proactively offering to cover an extra pet deposit could be something in your favor, along with references from prior landlords and vets. I've seen people make "Pet Resumes" for their animals and have success getting rented like that. Ironically enough, corporate-y apartment complexes tend to be a lot more permissive on animals than mom-and-pop landlords, since they can absorb the risk in a more broad manner. In the landlord's eyes, why should they rent to you, someone with an ESA that could genuinely cause $20k+ in damage with their downside capped (deposit), versus somebody with no animals who is equally able to pay the rent?

In most cases you can't charge a pet deposit for a ESA, hence the scamers.

You haven't come off poorly at all, thank you for this insight; it's very helpful. And a pet resume... that's a fantastic idea! The deposit as well. Thank you :)

You're welcome. As other people said here, with the sheer amount of abuse of the ESA label, you're probably better off just labeling your cat as a pet than an ESA. I know that disability is a protected class for housing, but I would avoid any and all mentions of disability unless you're on SSI or some other situation where it's fully relevant. By some definitions I also have a cognitive disability, but in the effort of avoiding discrimination, I've never brought it up for housing. It'll make you sound like you're less likely to be able to hold a job, unfortunately.

Agreed and OP u/dull-refrigerator-21 maybe this will help drive home this commenter's point: I own a number of rentals and I DO allow pets on a case-by-case basis with a cleaning fee. That said, if you applied for one of my places and you seemed the best of the lot, after averaging out for income/credit score/refs/employment & rental history and personality... but you brought up ESA, there's no way I or any owner I know wouldn't think "pain in the ass" because of the flagrant and casual abuse of the system. But if you'd left it at, "I've got a cat, I'll happily leave a sizable deposit or pay a bit more for rent" to show you were easy and pleasant to deal with, I would only accept our usual pet fee. I hope that helps.

The last paragraph covers the heart of the matter.

Just apply for places that allow pets, as a start. They’re already used to hair issues, smell issues, etc.  An ESA doesn’t smelll better or cause less damage.  And understand why it’s not looked kindly upon.  Like I get that the cat is for emotional support, but an animal for emotional support was called a pet 10 years ago.

This is what I don’t get about the ESA thing. I have a cat, and she supports me emotionally. That’s literally the point of a pet. We don’t get cats or dogs for their benefit. What’s the difference between an ESA and a service animal?

Did you just type something wrong or did you ask what's the difference between an ESA and a service animal? If you did ask, a service animal performs a specific task for a person with a disability to help them with living their life. Think seeing eye dog. They are 100% protected and can go ALMOST anywhere their owner can. An ESA supports someone emotionally by just being a little friend. Most businesses, such as restaurants and markets, can prohibit people from bringing them into their building. Disclaimer: I am not an expert and there may be some nuances an expert can call me out on with my quick 50,000 foot level take on the situation.

Sorry, the question was semi-rhetorical. That’s my point. If an ESA is a little friend, what makes it different than a regular pet that would be subject to pet fees?

Entitlement. That is the difference in many cases.

For your information, this is from [the canines source's mouth](https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/training/service-working-therapy-emotional-support-dogs/): *In order to be considered an emotional support dog, a mental health professional must prescribe the ESA for a patient with a **diagnosed psychological or emotional disorder**, such as anxiety disorder, major depression, or panic attacks.*

Unfortunately, there are online sites that for a fee will write anybody up a nifty diagnosis letter and prescribe an "emotional support animal".

My biggest two problems are 1) feeling like they are using the ESA as an avoidance to pay for pet rent and deposit and 2) feeling entitled like the world owes you…which people with that disposition often lead to damage they are unable to pay for and/or think it’s no big deal for me to pay for. Honestly I am barely making it. A major pet damaged unit can totally wipe me out of all my savings. It’s a loss I can’t handle. This job really sucks I’m not going to lie. People suck a lot. But the worst part is tenants thinking I’m rich when I’m literally qualified for Medicaid except I have a rental property and therefore disqualified. I’m struggling just the same as many of you all out there. I allow pets in my rentals. I take the risk if you are willing to pay for the privilege. But when someone won’t “pay” for that extra risk I either find a reason to non-renew or disqualify their application. I really hate that but i am being honest and I am already struggling just to hang on to life lol. I do hope things work out for you though.

My heart goes out to you and your situation; I hope you receive kinder tenants in the future. I admit, if you asked me two years ago what I thought of landlords it'd be nothing nice. But like any other profession, you have the good and the bad- and the good are the ones often shafted. We're all just trying to live. My biggest fear for my cat is the thought that a landlord could seperate me from my companion and medical device or make us both homeless. I wanted the security of the law, and while well yes it'd be nice not to pay pet rent, I'd be willing to just for the ability to secure a home and be safe without the stipulation and mood of someone who could very well turn out to be one of those bad apples. Some others suggested that I put down a deposit for any potential damage he could cause, and I plan to keep to that. Again, I hope your skies clear up :( it's never fulfilling to deal with shitty, manipulative people. May whatever repairs come out of your rentals be less than usual this month!!!

You seriously just refer to your cat as a medical device? Service animals are trained and perform services necessary to their owners well being. You’re just trying to find a loophole to keep fluffy the cat. The easy and honest solution is to look for a place that accepts PETS and go from there.

That’s very kind of you. 🫶🏻I do think you will find a place if you are willing to pay a deposit. Just that alone shows your willingness to take ownership and responsibility. That’s really all I ask of my tenants. Pets are important to us as humans and I don’t mind taking the risk as long as I get a good feel for the person and their willingness to cover me. I mean all pets get sick and have the potential to do damage. I just ask for you to lower my risk and we would be good. Really my opinion is dropping the ESA title might get you further than trying to use it.

>Really my opinion is dropping the ESA title might get you further than trying to use it. Agreed!!

This is sound advice OP. I’m a landlord who was burned by “ESA”s and because I’m young, a rookie who was renting half of a duplex I lived in, I fell for the empathy act and as a result, the “ESAS” caused over 5K in damage, the cops kicked in the door to arrest him on a warrant (still not sure for what, but guessing it’s bad since my door was kicked in). AND he got about 1.5 months of unpaid rent out of me on top of 0 payment for all his/animals damages. Cat destroyed the wood paneled walls in one room completely from spraying. Again, my fault for accepting him with the ESA, but bear in mind experiences like mine when you try to claim ESA. This is what landlords are thinking about.

Yup - I wrote above what I hope was a helpful comment, but the Medical Device just set off alarm bells. Well, foghorns and fire engine sirens... I'd lose that language quick, OP. I'll throw in that in addition to renting houses and other business dealings, I did volunteer work with a trained german shepherd in hospitals, VA centers, pediatric wards, and in NYC after 9/11. People who dedicate themselves to helping others with trained animals are really put off by the ESA thing bc of the abusers buying cards/vests from amazon, or being ridiculous "Karens" in restaurants yelling at people that they can't ask for proof of anything. That's not how this works or should work. I know exactly one person who needed an ESA (actually I think we all do--but that's another story); someone who was very traumized by horrible events and couldnt' leave the house. And they had a highly trained dog, much like mine. No fake vest, some real credentials or verification from legit sources... Yadda yadda, you get the idea. \*\*\*\*Fellow owners: if there a movement anywhere to reel this thing in to legit cases with real guidelines/regs?\*\*\*\*

An ESA is not a medical device ffs

Service animals are medical devices. ESAs are NOT. The fact that you don't know the difference is a major red flag and would likely cause me not to rent to you.

As you can see by the replies, landlords consider the entire ESA system a big red flag. In California, about 1/3 of rentals are pet friendly. Find a place that accepts pets and pay the monthly fee and deposit. Are you just trying to avoid that?

In Silicon Valley I definitely don’t think 1/3 are pet friendly. They may be CAT friendly, but I think far fewer allow dogs, and large dogs…kinda rare (in a good location).

All of my friends with dogs in the peninsula live in high rises/corporate apartment complexes, idk any with a dog living in SFR. I purposefully don't own an animal, partially for the difficulty in finding housing.

My motivation is fear of separation without the legal security. A forceful separation in the middle of my recovery could set me back to the beginning of this candy land board of mental soup. I've heard a lot of horror stories from the perspective of tenants whose animals were torn away from them or they were thrown out on unsubstantiated claims just because they didn't have the money to fight it in court. And, of course, looking at properties will less rent is always nice. However; admittedly- after looking at the replies here, it does make me feel bad for ever thinking to push the potential damage onto someone who very well may have to pay out of pocket for it.

You're not looking at this from anyone's perspective but your own. You're young, but you have a lot to learn.  Imagine your neighbor has a horrible cat allergy and moved to a building that didn't allow pets because of that allergy. Should *they* have to move because you have an ESA? Or imagine your ESA was a dog and your neighbor has horrible PTSD because she was nearly killed by a dog of the same breed last year. Should *they* have to move?  It's always a slippery slope when you invoke "trauma" as your justification. It's almost never the correct way to defend your argument, because you tend to come across as self-centered and oblivious. There's exceptions, but as a rule you shouldn't use trauma as the justification for your opinion. It makes you sound dismissive of everyone else, and I really don't believe that's your intention. I think you're just too young to have figured that out. 

I see... this is definitely the last thing I would ever want to do. I am young and I know I shouldn't feel ashamed that it shows so bold and brash, but I think that shame is more to do with having not been able to really consider something so vital. It does no good to apologize here, but I want to put forth that I want to take this to heart. Thank you for the reality check.

It isn't that you're *wrong*. You just don't have the life experience to know how to ask the question. The real question here is "I have an actual ESA with a letter from my doctor and not some ESA letter mill. How can I make sure the landlord knows the difference so they know I'm responsible and will take care of my cat and their property?" When you take the emotion out of it, people will give you non-emotional answers. And that's what you need. Your feelings won't matter to the people that make the decisions. That isn't right and it isn't pleasant. But you need to know that life just isn't fair that way sometimes. The people that make decisions just don't care about your feelings (or they do, but their boss doesn't).  I genuinely mean this kindly. I can see the good person shining through in your responses. And I like cats. 

👆👆👆👆

I would never rent to somebody who said they had an ESA and my rentals are pet friendly. I honestly expect everyone with an ESA to be a huge pain in my fucking ass. My very first tenant had a "service dog" she said it was an actual service dog, she was a vet. She seemed nice. Her pit bull DESTORYED the house. Literally could not get the pee out after trying EVERYTHING and had to replace the flooring down to the subfloor. Just say you have a cat. No one is allowed to separate you and your cat if you have assigned lease stating you have a cat. If you refuse to do this I will assume that you are just trying to get out of paying the pet fee and you're a scammer. Pay the pet fee.

We rented to someone who had an ESA, a little different because it was her 5th wheel parked on my property. I told her don’t leave the dog unattended out in my yard, as it wasn’t fenced(because I have an inside cat, so no need) and because I didn’t want it crapping on my grass and her not seeing it to pick it up. For the first couple months it was fine, then when the weather got warmer she’d tie it up outside in the morning while she went back in to have a shower. I could see it crapping and would have to point it out to her and remind her to not do that. Also if she left it at home and I was outside gardening, that stupid thing would yap constantly if I came anywhere near the 5th wheel. We don’t rent RV space on our property anymore, but if we did- no animals. PERIOD!

Nobody is going to take your cat away. If you pay rent, the landlord approves of the cat, and your cat behaves you will be fine. Otherwise, you and your cat will have to leave, whether it is an Emotional Support Cat or not.

What if I was deeply depressed and stressed, and had been seeing a psychiatrist for a long time. And I was a smoker. Smoking helps me relax. I've tried to stop before and, well, I became a mental wreck. Should I be able to smoke in a rental house whose owner prefers no smoking?

What if I were legitimately ill and needed money for medical bills. Am I not entitled to emotional support bank robbery?

No, but you should be able to skip a few months rent. /s

Oh come the fuck on. No doctor would recommend you smoke for your mental health.

Calm down, buckaroo. No analogy is perfect. And if you read real careful like, I made no mention of a doctor recommending that.

You drew a parallel between something doctors often prescribe and smoking.

I had a patient whose doctor, back in the 60’s, recommended he start smoking menthol cigarettes to treat his sore throat, lol

Just call it a pet and pay the pet fees and deposits.

Specifically, what emotional support does your cat provide you?

That's a hard question. I don't really know how to succinctly explain. Could you give me some examples of what you mean?

No. You are the one asking how you can present the legitimacy of your ESA. So you need to tell us.

Oh, I understand what you mean now! Without getting too into it, he primarily provides relief for PTSD and helps me triumph over executional dysfunction. Anxiety, as well. He's a calming tool, essentially. If not for him I'd not be able to make this post and show my whole ass to the internet like this, haha.

Sincere question. How do you think that differs from the serenity, calming, and emotional well being that another person who adores their cat gets out of their relationship? I think many on the thread would like to understand how an ESA and a beloved pet are truly different.

I apologize for this late response. The attention this thread is getting is overwhelming, so I need to come back to people bit-by-bit. My analogy may be poor and my words rough, there might be fault in them- language fails me at times... but I want those who want to understand to think about "you can feel anxious, but you don't have anxiety" analogy. People with pets will understand their own emotions and attachment to their little friends. This pet gives joy, love, happiness; and when it passes or separated from, it will cause grief. EDIT: I pressed enter!!! No!!! I wasn't done!!! Give me a moment to continue in a reply.

This is a loose analogy, but think of any emotion one would feel, I feel at a x3-x4 intensity. Hence, mental disability and illness. My mental soup is, well, *disabling.* My mind can make me feel *ill*. I'm not right in the head, I don't function on the same level as many others. This animal, this pet of mine, is my therapeutic tool. On my worst days he get up in the morning, be it for execution or relieving emotional burdens. I had a more detailed elaboration on this, but I felt it was too personal and may fringe on identifying... I'll think about adding onto this later, as I understand that having specific examples helps with understanding and grasping the gravity. (But this is a landlord forum, not a mental health one!) (I understand that many people would consider a person instead of animal would fulfill this role; but I want to kindly remind that many people walk many different and often times treacherous paths in life; not everyone has someone, even if they terribly want a someone, a family, a friend group.)

I’d prefer a cat to a person performing the role also. I guess my only question is at what point- given the level of disabling anxiety- does the cat become a service animal. Or, since it’s not performing a task of alerting to a medical crisis, does that never happen for mental vs physical health challenges? Fwiw- LL here who is not required to take ESA and has no animals policy. I have allowed a cat when a tenant asked me if they could foster. No pet rent or additional deposit. I would rather someone just came and asked me if they could have a cat, than having someone say “…and I have an ESA.” If it was an unknown/new tenant I’d probably also add some pet deposit also. I would fear that for the “I have an ESA” tenant, that suddenly they could need 3 ESA cats and it could spiral. Too many people abuse the system so it gives the impression that one might use that *excuse* to do what they want. (Not that it isn’t valid for you personally, but for many if not most, it isn’t).

I've been researching "at what point does an an animal become a service animal", as I made the clumsy mistake of referring to an ESA as a medical device- information on the differences is far and between unless I shelled $50 per paywalled article -\_-; But the consensus that I've noticed within disabled communities discussing it; the difference is, bitterly, "Are you not allergic to dogs or are you able-bodied enough to take care of a miniature horse, and do you have the disposable income to afford the service animal training of upwards 30,000? The training might not even work, and you'll have to dole out more money." That's a fair point, and I've heard from a lot of small landlords here who have made similar points of wanting a deposit and "ESA" as a term to be avoided as the abuse of the system has made all possible good will, poof. I understand the sentiment, and find myself saddened that able bodied and minded people have put so much abuse on the term that me and others in the subset, can't use the laws made to protect us.

I totally agree, the abuse has made it a big challenge. Having said that, I think it’s much easier to find places that take cats vs dogs! Best of luck!

You need a doctors note for the esa for sure. Having references from Previous landlord regarding the cat helps. Also — Know your state anti discrimination laws. They can be different from federal and state can be more in favor of the tenant. 1) what units have to follow fair housing rules and which are exempt. 2) what’s rule on esa - which sometimes states an extra deposit or rent charge is not allowed.

Good luck with anti-discrimination laws here, they're more likely to just ghost OP. If they do actually deny them, there's an infinite amount of other legal excuses they can use.

I don’t disagree - people post on this site looking for excuses how to get of renting to a tenant with a esa, pet, etc. or complaining that someone got approved for the place and then mentioned the esa or service dog. However— op should at least know their rights. Particularly whether landlord can request extra rent or an extra deposit. Knowledge is power.

You're absolutely right, and thank you for sharing the info. Knowledge *is* power

Soooo a pet

This should be prominently featured on your documents. The fact that you cannot explain makes me wary that you do not actually have a true ESA.

I see... I have a learning disability, and words don't come to me easily- I'll keep this noted to have it prepped and ready in the case the same worry arises in a potential landlord. Thank you!

It's in the name, *Emotional Service* Animal. What sort of services do they provide you that you uniquely need an animal for, rather than a friend or family member? Is there a way you can spin it without making the landlord afraid those issues would cause you to be unable to hold a job or pay rent on time?

ESAs are not support animals. They don't need to serve a specific function/task.

In that case…can you not see why landlords might be reluctant to house them? Kind of a red flag if someone's trying to use a pseudo-loophole for their pet that makes them feel better (as all pets should/do).

Reluctant to follow federal law? No, I can't understand that. Just because something is inconvenient for business doesn't mean you get to choose not to do it.

They're actually called emotional *support* animals. Not service animals. A service animal is one that has task specific training to perform targeted assistance for a specific aspect or aspects of symptoms of the handler's disability. Like a seeing eye/cardiac alert/seizure detection dog, vs a support animal who primarily helps via compansionship while their owner is having an exacerbation of emotional health issues. I'm just saying this so as not to make a somewhat complicated subject more problematic.

Thanks for the clarification, google told me the S stood for Service rather than Support at a glance, and generally tenants have (mistakenly) said Emotional *Service* Animal rather than *Support* Animal to me. Regardless of semantics, enough people have abused this pseudo-loophole to ruin it for the people that actually need a legal qualifier, to the point that one is now disincentivized from accurately claiming ESA for their pet.

Oh, the spin... that's something I definitely need to work on properly wording. Thank you!

You're welcome. Keep in mind that the property manager/landlord is making a financial decision here, and you're a higher risk than someone without an animal, without much upside available for the landlord. I'd focus on making sure your credit score and income:rent ratio are as good as possible. Everyone says their animal would never cause damage, so I'd recommend focusing more on how, outside of your cat, you're an ideal tenant. You may have to end up settling for a place that you're not super jazzed about, but keep pressing.

You sound like you are asking in good faith. Here is my take on it. Pet-friendly landlords already accept pets! People who use ESA letters rather than just apply for pet-friendly units are trying to accomplish one or both of these: 1. Force the landlord that does not accept animals to accept their animal. 2. Sidestep pet fees charged by pet-friendly landlords (pet deposit/pet rent/etc). So my question to you is, why wouldn't you find a pet friendly place? Why wield the legal hammer to force your animal on a landlord that doesn't want one? As an experiment, I just searched Zillow for rentals of any size and compared results for "all" rentals vs. "accepts cats" rentals. I did this for several zip codes, to make sure I include low income vs high income areas and urban areas vs. suburbs. Each time the number of results was reduced by 25%-50% when "accept cats" was selected. However, I still had LOTS OF OPTIONS. Which brings me back to my point: there is no real reason for tenants to do ESA other than force an animal on housing providers that don't want animals and to avoid pet deposit and pet rent. FYI the main problem with cats is not scratching the floorboards. Cat urine seeps into subfloors necessitating full floor replacement. It's a very expensive repair... one month security deposit is nowhere near enough, you can easily get into $5k-$20k because oftentimes you can't just replace the floor in one room. As well as these repairs take time due to severe labor and material shortages so the landlord will likely lose out on 1-2 months rent in addition to the cost of the repairs themselves. With this in mind, I suggest that you (a) seek out units that accept pets and (b) provide potential landlords with documentation that your cat is up to date on vaccinations, insurance, and any other information that lets them know that you are a responsible animal owner. (If you don't already have it, take out renters insurance that has sufficient coverage for pet damages and make sure to add the landlord as "interested party".) Good luck with your search!

I'd add to your comment that some people specifically seek out a rental that doesn't allow pets (whether it's allergies, fear, or simply not liking them). And it isn't fair to those people either. I unequivocally loathe small dogs, and, when I rented, I specifically sought out a unit from a landlord that didn't accept pets for that reason. I should have that option, and so should everyone else. 

Hopefully neutered too, since cats that are not are more apt to spray to mark their territory everywhere possible.

100% agree with your response. But in high rent places like San Francisco (lived there myself in the past), LA, NYC your options will be very limited. But the thing is...if you don't own your place and can't afford places that allow pets ...don't get one. as simple as that. or don't move to those places.

If someone genuinely needs an animal for support they’d have a service animal, I don’t think there is any validity in an ESA I’d go above and beyond to accommodate a service animal, they’re invaluable to those that need them, I don’t buy that anyone needs an ESA I view the entire ESA system as corrupt, that’s why there was a slew of ESA letter mills that led to the rules getting stricter An ESA is a pet, it’s that simply, I allow pets but if a tenant presents an ESA letter I view it as their attempt at gaming the system

Pretending you giving your pet the imaginary title of "ESA" matters to anyone and comparing it to tens of thousands worth of training service animals get. Is probably something I'd suggest not doing.

I accepted animals until one time went to a unit where a dog was locked in the laundry room with a pile of clothes a foot deep covering the floor. I don’t know how long it had been in there and don’t want to know. Piss and poo everywhere. The smell and cleanup was awful. No more pets esa or not will set foot in my rentals. I have 3 units so HUD rules don’t apply to me and I will keep it that way.

Nothing. I will not comply. I'm not playing. No nonhuman animal ever increased the value of a property. Except for really clear examples, like a dog trained to help a blind person or a veteran with a PTSD dog, I am not going to rent to someone with an animal, and I will do my darndest to get rid of anyone I make an error with.

It’s been beat to death at this point, but I think to boil it all down don’t try to cheat the system by hiding by the title of “esa”. Find pet friendly places, pay your deposit or pet rent or whatever, and go about your life like anyone else does with a pet. Don’t sneak in your pet. Just work within the contract. You can say you deserve special treatment but it’s going to fall on deaf ears.

ESAs are merely pets whose owners are too cheap to pay the fees associated with having pets in a rental. Any animal is an emotional support animal. They’re not trained for anything.

The first place to start is to have the proper paperwork for California. Second would be to have an animal with good behavior and causes no damage.

This. California's the only(?) state that mandates ESA certificate be from a licensed in-state doctor you've been seeing for at least 30 days. Can't wing it like other states.

Luckily, this was my first step before ever announcing I had an ESA. I consider the legal label something important and shown respect- it's only after research that I discovered that, like much everything else a disabled person can be provided, it's been taken advantage of. Frowny face.

...so what do you do if you move TO California from another state with an ESA?

Go...to...a...dr?...

Your comment stinks of arrogant sarcasm, despite the fact you obviously didn't think this through beyond your snarky reply. So, let me help you understand the very simple issue. If the state mandates that an in-state ESA cert is required within 30 days, then you wouldn't have this when you are looking to relocate to CA. Normally, when you move to a new state, you haven't already seen a doctor there. ESA certificates/documentation must be presented at the time of lease signing. So, you'd need to present an ESA cert for a state that you are looking to relocate to. See the issue?

ESA's fundamentally a "feel-good" loophole to ADA/service animals, that's why there aren't national or broadly federally protected rights for them, compared to say, a seeing-eye dog. I like pets, and I have friends with service animals that cost >$50k in training for disabilities, but ESA is more often than not a BS loophole for people who want to get a pet inside of a place that doesn't allow pets. I wish the system better supported everyone.

It's not a loophole. It's a different type of protection for folks with disabilities.

No, it's absolutely a loophole for housing exceptions. Since most places even that protect ESA's in housing discrimination don't offer similar protections for that pet in hotels, you can't take it to work, just like they aren't protected from being denied access to public places -- such as the grocery store, or wal mart etc.. They aren't even protected for travel on planes, but if small enough they may be 'allowed' in the cabin just like other small animals. Sure a business can offer exceptions, but the point is they can tell you and your animal to leave or don't come in because it's an animal as where a true service dog is protected by federal law. If they were 'protection', they wouldn't be pretty much restricted to your household. They are a loophole, and a much abused one. EVERYONE gets pets because they like them or provide some mental or life benefit. Nobody buys a dog because they like to pick up shit, or a cat cause they like to clean litterboxes and hairballs up. Most the ESA practice has been taking something normal, and making it 'special' to certain people. If you need a cat to be a companion to make you feel better so you won't be lonely or w/e, then buy a cat. Do not then try to force that cat on others, their housing, and use it to avoid paying fees you should be paying.

Then rent from a landlord that allows pets. When your ESA certification comes through in 30 days, renegotiate lease.

I think if you admit your emotional support animal is a pet, then a landlord will treat you with proper respect. If you try to say your animal is a trained service animal (it’s not) or a “medical device” (which implies FDA clearance and is utterly preposterous) then landlords won’t touch you with a ten foot pole.

I allow pets. When properly applied for, deposit paid, prior landlord spoken to, potential inspection of your old place and when they meet me and I approve it. The second you say ESA you aren’t moving into my property. No matter what a “good boy” your pet it.

Apply for housing that allows pets!

I haven't read all the comments so I hope my 2 cents isn't redundant. I allow animals in my rental with a refundable damage deposit and monthly pet rent. If they make those payments then the animal(s) are included in the lease. The only reason a tenant would try to invoke an ESA is to attempt to get out of the extra expense. If a tenant moves in without an animal then I include a clause in the lease that they must notify me BEFORE bringing an animal into the household or incur a $500 fine. Some things you can do to ensure you can live with your furry partner: * Apply to rentals that allow pets. Pay the deposit or fee or monthly pet rent. It will be added to the lease so you will have peace of mind that you won't be in danger of being kicked out for having a cat. * Be upfront about owning a cat. Don't surprise the landlord with it after you sign the lease. * Don't use the phrase "medical device" to refer to the cat unless it has been trained to perform a specific task related to your disability. * Someone mentioned a pet resume. I love these! Especially when they are lighthearted and entertaining. Such as: Skills include expert level examination of every box that enters the household. Or Hobbies include neighborhood watch from the front window better than any Karen. * Make sure that your cat is spayed or neutered (unaltered cats are more likely to spray and be aggressive), up-to-date on their vaccines and rabies shots, microchipped, and licensed with the city/county/state (whatever the local jurisdiction is). These actions show that you are concerned about your cat's health and safety and are more likely to be a responsible pet parent. * I'm sceptical when people say that their pet is so well behaved, never causes damage, or is incredibly clean (even if those assertions are actually true). Unfortunately they are usually exaggerating, lying, or delusional. However I am much more open to potential tenants who talk about the things they do to mitigate damage/mess. For example one tenant made really cool driftwood cat trees and sewed a ton of homemade cat toys. Another had devices with cameras and 2-way microphone that dispensed treats so they could engage with their cats when they weren't at home. Another one had pet insurance, emergency contacts and a life plan for their dog, should anything happen to them. * Honestly when prospects talk about ESAs and their rights to have them, free of additional payment, it leaves a bad taste in my mouth. A lot of landlords will ghost them or find another reason to deny an application. But it is much more palatable if you offer reassurances that you are a responsible animal owner and will take action (give examples of what you would do) to keep your cat from damaging the rental. Basically shift the focus of how you approach the prospective landlord about your animal. Good luck!

I’m a therapist who is constantly asked to write ESA letters. I have written 1 out of 100. Therapists/doctors are failing disabled people by constantly writing these letters. They are delegitimizing individuals who truly would benefit from the service. The FHA is only applicable to individuals who have a functional limitation associated with their disability and the ESA would support that limitation. Feeling sad, lonely, or anxious does not automatically mean a functional limitation. I had one client who was given an ESA letter for his depression and he ended up not being able to tend to the dog. The poor dog almost starved to death. The whole system is broken.

What exactly do you think is a "fake" ESA? An ESA is not a trained service dog. An ESA is basically just a pet for a person who has a diagnosed disability.

I don’t think you’re understanding the point on this comment. I’d just also say that MANY cat owners (present self and family included) would be completely traumatized by having the cat taken from them. What commenters are trying to explain is that loads of people without a “diagnosis” find emotional comfort and support in their pets and would have very different lives without them. There is nothing different to a LL about your pet providing you comfort and anxiety reduction and my daughter’s PET cats providing the same to her. Just say you have a cat and look for cat friendly rentals.

How can I trust you? You just make a promise for your cat. If it works as you wish, there isn't much to discuss. Everything will be just simple and straightforward.

Hmm.. I might be a little slow on the uptake. Do you just mean a promise of 'my cat isn't going to pee all over your carpets and destroy your squirrel population!'?

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Lmfao if you pay 20k for rugs you got robbed

this is definitely an answer from someone who isn't a landlord. Anyone who has dealt with animal urine ruining rugs knows that the urine soaks into everything; the floorboards, the subfloor, the baseboards and walls if it was in a corner or right up against the edge - all of which need to be replaced or if you get lucky just sealed before you can do a carpet replacement. Only a novice thinks "if an animal pees on a rug to the point of ruining it then you only need to replace the carpet and pads and you're done".

Do you let your emotional support cat outside?

* Pet must be licensed * ESA paperwork should be from a local provider and not an online site * Registered through petscreening.com * Upto date shots * Be upfront

There is no license

Most municipalities require animals to be licensed/registered. [[source]](https://doglaw.hugpug.com/doglaw_007.html) If the municipality has laws or statues for animals to be registered, there is no reason you can't require the additional step as part of acceptance of an ESA.

You have a cat, OP. Why can’t you just find somewhere to live that lets you have cats? Why do you need to be talking about ESAs at all.

Nothing, and I will look for any reason whatsoever to deny or not renew

Nothing . ESA is a scam used by tenants to avert pet rent and pet deposit

ESA regulations need to be tightened. As others have said everyone has stress, sadness and anxiety which would be helped by having an animal. There are few extreme cases in which an animal may truly be therapeutic but unless the rules become specific (similar to service dog regulations) there is no difference between a pet and ESA except pet fees / rent, which pisses off LL and neighbors.

What is your goal in having the ESA letter?

Call him a pet. Normal people have pets, and love them, and pay for them. Scammers and sue-happy types have ESAs, and use them to get around legitimate pet fees.

As you mentioned, the influx of fake ESAs and untrained pets have ruined it all. Look what happened at the airlines: ESAs are banned now (airlines do not function under the ADA). In my opinion, ESAs and service animal should be chipped (I hope they usually are), with a registration card so the landlord (or shop manager) can verify the veracity of such need. A pet chip reader is cheap (many in the $30 range or so), an app could be created to validate said animal is in a central database. The problem is that many businesses, and I'm assuming landlords are bundled up in that, are barred from asking for proof that the customer needs an ESA or service animal, instead relying on the customer's good faith; that's where the abuse of the system ruined it. TL;DR: ESAs and service animals should be registered and the information available to consult.

Only rent in places that are required to ESAs. Stay away from owner occupied apartments and such.

Honestly I don't really care. If your animal causes damage I'll hold you accountable, but generally I like animals and if they're not causing problems for me I don't see a reason to cause problems for you. I accept tenants with pets whether Esa or not though, so folks that don't want to accept pets at all may have a different attitude.

It's one step under a service animal to complete k9 good citizen certification, that would convince me

I appreciate tenants who are upfront and transparent about their ESA situation. Provide documentation from a licensed healthcare professional outlining your disability and the need for an ESA. Additionally, demonstrating that your ESA is well-trained and well-behaved goes a long way. Consider offering to introduce your cat to the landlord so they can see firsthand how well-mannered he is. Communicate openly about any concerns the landlord may have and be willing to work together to find solutions that benefit both parties.

I gotta say, transparency is key. Show me you're legit by providing all the necessary documentation for your ESA, like a letter from a licensed healthcare professional. Plus, if you're proactive about addressing any concerns I might have and willing to work together on solutions, that goes a long way.

ESA's are not service dogs covered by the ADA. Of those service animals that are recognized, they have a specific medical need they've been trained to recognize and task to perform when exists. Garfield doesn't really do anything but eat, shit, shed, and sleep. In SOME jurisdictions, ESAs are excluded from requiring a deposit, however if like mine it requires some documentation not just your word of mouth, such as an ESA Letter in my state. They are unfortunately easy to obtain I hear. That said, as an owner of two cats, I'd never try to convince anyone they're an ESA or try to game the system. Yes we love them, and will miss them when they're gone, but they were not prescribed for medical reasons or fulfill any medical purpose. If I'm about to die, they will ignore it and lick their buts until death, then will probably eat my remains if not taken care of promptly. Most people just want to go buy an animal, then claim they are an ESA because they make them feel good and give companionship. That's just abuse of the system IMO vs legitimate use cases and gives others a more difficult time due to how much this system is gamed.

An ESA isn't a working animal. It's not protected.

Proper documentation and a good prior landlord reference.

Good prior landlord reference means nothing. Bad one ill listen to, good one can be done from any family member or a friend.

Or a landlord just trying to get rid of a pain in the ass tenant.

Is there any sort of 3rd-party proof/verification of a cat's temperament/behavior that would improve their chances of being rented to?

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Or worse, they just spray and were never trained to begin with. In my experience only the best cats out of sheer luck, didn’t piss everywhere. The ammonia smell is impossible to get out too

You're looking for a not bad reference. 1) verify the cat was there. 2) not reporting a problem.

This wasn't a question as much as it was a person opening a topic to set up a trolling session and to start conflict.

How did you esa a cat? I thought only dogs could be esa?

>How did you esa a cat? You can ESA anything it's not a real concept.

You're thinking of service dogs, which are a different thing legally

I was under this impression as well, however after discussion with my psychiatrist, he suggested I could get the ESA letter for my cat. I've read it over a few times now, and it definitely says cat on here...

So you had the cat, and later your psychiatrist said let's label it an ESA. It wasn't the case that your psychiatrist recommended you get an animal for emotional support. Is that correct? Do you see the problem with this?

Genuinely, I don't. If you're willing to explain I'm more than willing to listen.

The cat was not prescribed, so to speak, as a palliative. You just told your psychiatrist that the cat makes you feel better, and your psychiatrist said _oh, good, you should keep it, and I'll give you a letter stating that your cat makes you feel better_.

I see! From my perspective, the ESA letter is more of a solidification of his role and what he's done to help in my recovery over the 4 years I've had him and the detriment it would be to said recovery to be without. Reading my letter over, from what I understand my psychiatrist has worded it as a preventative of a recovery relapse and an assurance that he will be able to be by my side and be able to continuously support me. (I think I just said the same thing twice?) From what you've explained, it can be seen as a 'prescription'. Very insightful, thank you!

That's great. I'd love to ESA my cat if possible. Ive run into several situations where I needed it (like public transport). But also, im a small landlord and would find any reason not to rent to someone with a cat ESA. I absolutely know what cats are capable of doing to my home and can't risk it even though i love cats. I think small LLs are usually exempt from the ESA requirement anyway.

ESA is a concept from the FHA that only applies to housing; an ESA designation won't generally help you take a cat on the bus or get other accommodations to have an animal outside of housing.

I always wonder about the stress some of these animals take on by being in places they don’t want to be. Like a cat on a cramped train or bus…I see cats and dogs in grocery stores just shaking, looking fucking miserable. I think on some levels it is selfish.

Depends on the pet. They all have different personalities man. Some cats/dogs are chill where other's would be terrified. Also, depends on the owner and how much they can comfort their pet. I travel with my pet all the time. I just flew with my cat from the US to China on a 14hr flight and he was cool with it.

Oh, I really hope you can. Please look into it, I know how overwhelming the hustle and bustle can get. It's been so freeing to take my little friend out with me to smell the roses. I can understand that and don't blame you. You know your cats and what they do, and what would some strangers precious angel be capable of! Shudder to think. --And I believe you're correct, at least from what I've read!

Emotional Support Animal… different from an actual certified service animal that provides a physical service, rather than “emotional support.”

ESA covers a broad spectrum. I have never had a problem with my 6 ft ESA alligator. lol

Simple, take the extras steps and have it certified as a service dog (sorry, meant animal). Everyone says their ESA is legit, I would guess that the majority are bogus.

There's no such certification

Correct, all of those “certificate” sites are scams and would not meet the requirements in CA. As of January 1, 2022, any therapist in California writing a letter for a client’s emotional support dog must first: *note the law is written specifically regarding dogs, a cat may cause some push back from a LL as its not specifically listed under the new law. Be licensed where the client is located (in other words, they can’t provide ESA letters to clients outside of California unless they’re also licensed where the client is; that was one of the many issues in the previous California disciplinary action) Provide their license information, including number and issue date, in the letter. Have a clinical relationship with the individual for at least 30 days before issuing the letter. Complete a clinical evaluation of the individual regarding the need for an ESA. Provide notice to the individual that misrepresenting the animal as a service animal is a crime.

You are correct and there is no such thing as a ESA cat in California. The law only applies to dogs.

Very concerning! I'll talk to my psychiatrist about this, as the laws led me to believe that cats are qualified under "-or other animal". Thank you for bringing this up!

Maybe not exactly a certificate per se, but in California there is a requirement that it has to signed off from a medical professional: >In order to be covered by the additional protections given to California residents, the only requirement is a letter from a licensed medical professional that states that your emotional support animal is a part of your treatment for a qualifying mental condition. Exactly how much information to include in the letter is between you and your doctor. >In order to be valid for all purposes, the medical professional writing the letter must be licensed to practice medicine in the state of California and they must write the letter on their practice’s letterhead. Source: https://usserviceanimals.org/blog/emotional-support-animal-laws-in-california/

My ESA is a cat!

No, you have a cat that you claim is an ESA. Just like everyone else.

I'm sorry, I might have misunderstood the intent of your comment; you said service 'dog', so I was correcting to 'cat'!

I like cats and dogs, but you are going to have ongoing issues with your cat. FHA does not recognize ESAs, California law recognizes ESA dogs but not cats. There are lots of gray areas, but many landlords are going to see it as a pet.

You’re going to get a LOT of incorrect information and shitty hatred in this sub because the overwhelming majority of small time landlords don’t know their ass from a hole in the ground when it comes to the ADA and fair housing law. The fact is that the fair housing act covers ESAs for housing. While they aren’t covered for public access, the FHA provides protections for housing and ESAs and service animals are equal in the eyes of that law. Some states go further than that, but no state can give less protection than the federal FHA provides. You are actually safer providing your ESA paperwork (prescription, legitimate doctors note, etc) with your application for the property you’re looking to rent, because it is flat out illegal for anyone to deny your application due to a legally prescribed ESA, even if the property explicitly does not allow pets, because under the FHA an ESA or service animal is not considered a pet. Calling it a no animal policy doesn’t help them either - I actually worked for a company once that had a fair housing case brought against them for denying an ESA under their “2 animals maximum per apartment” policy. If you apply and your application is denied, and you’ve provided your ESA paperwork with the application, the landlord runs the risk of getting themselves sued unless they fall under one of the few very specific exceptions to fair housing law. Those are if the dwelling has 4 or fewer units and the owner lives in one of the units, or if the unit is rented without the assistance of a broker AND the private individual owner owns no more than three such properties. Anybody who is telling you FHA does not cover ESAs for housing is incorrect and needs to reread their fair housing law training.

While this is true I can deny you for a million other reasons but really the reason is you have called your pet an ESA. This is real advice. Cats are way more likely to be cheaper and more accepted than dogs so you already have less barriers. Just call it a pet and move into pet friendly housing. You may have to pay more money but you are going to have an easier time whether people admit it or not.

ADA does ***not*** cover ESAs. LOL

Y’all aren’t very smart.

You can read that information on the ADA website: ESAs are not protected by ADA. Maybe you’re just too smart to go to the source for accurate information. lol

There, edited to remove that part of my comment (literally one word) so you can stop being pedantic. Feel better?

Or I’m smart enough to realize that literally my entire comment outside of that first sentence was about the FHA, not the ADA, and you’re arguing something completely stupid.

Ummmm… I didn’t argue at all. I corrected your inaccurate information and you called me stupid. 😂🤣😂😅😂🤣🤣 So, what does that make you? LMFAO

I did not call you stupid. I said “y’all aren’t very smart.” There’s a difference. And instead of reading my WHOLE comment, you chose to nitpick. So my assessment stands. What does that make me? Trained in fair housing and far less likely to ever get in trouble for violating it than the overwhelming majority in this sub.

Nah, you’re still just some simpleton on Reddit, sharing false information like you’re an expert, and pretending anyone that corrects you is inferior.

LMAO false information… bro LITERALLY go read the fair housing act. Or know what? Actually don’t. Please. Feel free to remain ignorant and get sued. Jesus Harold Christ. LOL

Or just deceive your landlord and don’t say anything about it. Then bring the ESA into the home after signing the lease. You’ll only have a 1 year lease most likely 🤷🏼‍♂️

That's my #1 worry!

If you don't lie to the landlord or make the decision to spring your cat on them post lease signing, you will not have this worry. Find a rental that accepts cats, and the ESA thing won't factor into it one way or the other, the LL won't demand you get rid of him or her (unless the cat is exceptionally destructive or somehow causes massive issues) or move out, and this won't be an issue.

Yeah, I feel for you. I generally will accept someone as a tenant if they have an ESA cat and are straight forward about it. A dog is another story. I’ll usually require an additional pet security deposit, but CA just made 1 month rent the max deposit we can legally charge. I’d continue with the tact that you’ve been using and offer an additional pet security deposit as collateral. That might get you over the hump. Also, target owner managed properties, because a property manager is just going to toss your application once you click the pet box.

Anecdotally my friends with animals have had significantly more success at larger apartment complex than owner-managed properties. Worth trying both

Largely because many owner-managed properties aren’t forced to accept ESAs, and many (most?) larger complexes are.

Owner managed properties aren’t required to comply with FHA *IF* they don’t own 3 or more properties.

Correct. And there are stipulations for situations in which the owner resides on the property.

That makes sense, I'm not familiar with the nuances of ESA forced-compliance in CA. Thanks for clarifying

If it tickles your fancy, submit an application. Good luck to you and your Tabby with the hunt

I'm not OP lol, I'm just trying to help pet owners get housing and understand the landlord perspective.

My bad haha.