Emotional support animals are incredibly helpful companions, and you can absolutely adopt an ESA after you move into a rental house or other housing space operated by a landlord.
However, there are a few things that you must keep in mind when you are considering adopting an ESA after moving into your next housing unit.
Our quick guide tells you more about adopting an ESA after you move in.
What Is an ESA?
An ESA, also known as an emotional support animal, is any animal that comforts, supports, or provides companionship to their human.
ESAs are prescribed as companion animals to those who need support for a mental health condition, such as anxiety or depression, and though they are not trained like service animals, they can be a great source of comfort and companionship.
Who Qualifies for an ESA?
Any individual who suffers from a mental health condition but does not need an animal trained to complete tasks related to their disability can benefit from an emotional support animal.
A licensed mental healthcare provider will have the final say on who can add an ESA to their treatment plan, and you will need to obtain an ESA letter from your therapist before you are able to take advantage of protected housing accommodations for your ESA.
In addition to obtaining an ESA letter, you can also get additional documents for your animal, which can help you make your ESA claims more legitimate, though you only need an ESA letter from a licensed mental health professional from a legal standpoint.
For instance, you can get an online ESA certification to submit alongside your letter when requesting accommodation.
How Do I Get an ESA?
The first step in getting an ESA is speaking to your therapist or another licensed mental healthcare provider. Your provider can evaluate your condition and determine whether or not an emotional support animal is right for you.
If it is determined that you could benefit from an ESA, your provider will write you an ESA letter that acts as your prescription for your companion animal.
Can I Get an ESA After I Move In?
It is totally possible to get an ESA after you move into a property, as there are no limits on when you need to adopt your emotional support animal.
Typically, individuals will adopt their ESA after speaking with their mental healthcare provider about the best option for their mental health condition and general lifestyle.
If this happens to be after you move into a property, you can still utilize any federal or state fair housing protections to ensure you obtain accommodations for your ESA.
When adopting an ESA after you move into a property, you will still need to inform your landlord and provide your up-to-date and valid ESA letter.
This document is all you need to show that your ESA is valid and deserves accommodation.
Can My Landlord Deny My ESA?
Your landlord can potentially deny your request for ESA housing accommodations, though these circumstances are not that common.
In general, your ESA can be denied if they are causing extreme destruction to the property, threatening the health and safety of others, the animal is unable to be cared for in your home (such as a farm animal in an apartment), or the ESA is causing a significant financial burden to your landlord or property manager.
Your ESA can also be denied if you do not have the proper documentation for them, such as the ESA letter that allows you to identify your companion animal as an emotional support animal.
Outside of these specific reasons, your landlord cannot really deny your ESA for reasons such as not liking the type of animal or not generally allowing animals in your chosen housing.
Can I Get an ESA After I Move in? Keeping Your ESA
Adopting an emotional support animal can be a great way to manage your mental health condition and receive comfort in your everyday life.
However, many people may worry that renting their home or apartment puts them at risk of not being able to live with their ESA.
Federal and state regulations protect your right to an emotional support animal, as long as you take the proper steps to ensure your ESA is valid and you have the appropriate documentation.
With this documentation, you are sure to keep your ESA in your home regardless of when you moved into your property.
