If Tou Habe A Service Dog Can You Get An Apartment That Doesnt Allow Dogs?

As any pet parent who's spent time browsing their local rental market already knows, information technology'south not uncommon for landlords or management companies to impose a no pet policy. Usually, the worry is that pets will cause disturbances or amercement to the holding, or there may exist insurance restrictions preventing a pet assart. But while your typical renters have to abide by an apartment'southward no pet policy (however unfair it may seem), those who have an emotional support animate being do have some lee-way.

Landlords are not required to forgo a no pet policy and allow those with emotional support animals to alive with their pets, even if the animal was prescribed to an individual as a means of therapeutic treatment. Nonetheless, there are some potential workarounds. Here's what yous demand to know about navigating the rental market with an emotional support animal and increasing your chances of success in the face up of a no pet policy.

An emotional support animal vs. a service animal

Nether the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), whatsoever disabled person who relies on a service animal is entitled to accommodations that allow for their brute to alive with them, even in places where pets are not usually permitted. That's because service animals aren't considered pets—they're animals who are trained to accompany an private with a disability and perform specific tasks for them.

Where things become tricky for those with an emotional support animate being is that, unlike service animals, emotional support animals exercise not have whatever sort of protected status nether the ADA. While both emotional back up animals and service animals play important roles for their caregivers, simply service animals receive a protected legal status.

Because of this important distinction, an emotional support animal is not exempt from public and private restrictions nearly where they tin and cannot be in the aforementioned manner that a service brute is. Equally such, renting with a service animal is pretty easy—even when at that place's a no pet policy. The aforementioned cannot be said for renting with an emotional support creature.

Getting prepared

If yous're starting the process of finding a rental with your emotional support animal, there are a few things you lot can do to increase your chances of finding flexibility within a no pet policy. The first is to go an official letter from your psychologist or psychiatrist prescribing you with an emotional support fauna. Continue in heed that the letter of the alphabet must come up from a licensed mental health provider, and should include identifying information similar your dr.'s license type and number.

Of class, non all emotional support animals are prescribed by licensed professionals. Often, individuals brand the selection for themselves that an animal would provide them with the therapeutic support and companionship that they need for ameliorate mental wellness. If this is the case and yous aren't currently working with a mental health provider who can write you a prescription alphabetic character, you can apply to get an official letter online. Be wary, however, of websites offering faux letters. Be sure to go through a reputable service that only works with licensed mental wellness workers.

What if your landlord even so says no?

Ultimately, allowing a renter to live with an emotional support beast despite a no pet policy is up to the discretion of the landlord or management visitor, fifty-fifty if provided with proper documentation from a licensed mental wellness professional person.

If your landlord still says no, sometimes your best bet is just to expect elsewhere and detect a landlord who is more open to the prospect. If you're actually intent on living in a detail identify though, yous take two other modes of potential recourse:

Become a letter from a lawyer. There'southward no legal requirement stating that a landlord has to bypass a no pet policy for an emotional back up animate being, only that doesn't mean a letter from an attorney won't assist.
Contact the U.South. Department of Housing and Urban Evolution (HUD) and file a complaint. Go along in mind however that this type of instance may non make it to the top of the pile. If you're on a time crunch, this selection probably isn't your best bet.

The Off-white Housing Act (FHA) dictates that there are some situations where landlords are under no obligation to fifty-fifty consider emotional support animals. These include buildings with four or fewer units where the landlord occupies ane of the units, and single family accommodations rented or sold without a real estate broker. If neither of these distinctions use to the rental yous're interested in, your landlord should probably at to the lowest degree consider your request for an emotional support creature adaptation.

The takeaway

An emotional support animate being can admittedly provide an individual with a central service for meliorate health. But unfortunately, their condition is not legally protected under the ADA. As a result, renting with them may still bear witness to be tricky when a no pet policy is involved.

Your best bet is to go in prepared. Have an official letter documenting your need for an emotional support animate being prepare before you lot commencement searching for a new rental, and learn to abet for yourself. Don't just accept a no pet policy at face value if yous observe a identify you really like—it's always worth a endeavour to see if your landlord or management company volition be open up to making an exception.

No landlord is required to let an individual with an emotional support animal to reside in a residence with a no pet policy. However, except in those cases outlined by the Off-white Housing Act, almost of them should at to the lowest degree consider it. You may be surprised to find that a policy isn't every bit strict as you thought, or that a landlord is willing to piece of work with yous in order to provide an adaptation. You may have to pay a pet deposit or incur an additional charge on your hire each month, only depending on your state of affairs, that may be the most favorable pick.

With patience, y'all should be able to find either a rental that doesn't accept a no pet policy or one where the landlord is open up to working with you. Be patient, speak upwardly, and never be afraid to ask—it may just be that easy.