Emotional support animals are different from service animals which are governed by additional laws and defined under the americans with disabilities act as a dog.
Emotional support dog laws california landlord.
It s likely that you re here because a tenant or future tenant handed you an emotional support animal letter from their therapist and you re interested in finding out what your rights are as a landlord.
Remember how you ask is important as well.
This is the case.
You re in the right place.
If making accommodations for the emotional support animal places an undue financial hardship on the landlord.
Attorney katie holt writes.
Living with an emotional support dog or cat a guide to dealing with difficult landlords.
In california tenants have the right to bring their service dogs and emotional support animals to live with them in many circumstances.
If the tenant does not meet the qualifying standards the landlord has for all tenants such as having an income that is two and a half times the monthly rent.
For the emotional support animal to be legal tenants need documentation from a licenced medical professional stating that the animal is being used to manage a health condition.
Landlords and other housing providers in california may not refuse to make reasonable accommodations in their rules or policies if such accommodations are necessary to afford a person with a disability the equal opportunity to use and enjoy a house or.
Questions a landlord has the right to ask a tenant that needs an emotional support animal.
In addition federal law allows people with disabilities to bring their emotional support animal onto an airplane.
And certapet is here to help.
To learn more see nolo s articles on when california landlords have to allow psychiatric service dogs and emotional support animals and how california protects psychiatric service dogs and emotional support animals in the workplace.
The use of emotional support animals is emerging as a popular way for coping with mental and emotional conditions such as stress anxiety and depression.
A public place includes libraries hotels shops restaurants theatres and hospitals.
However the law does not consider emotional support animals to be the same as service dogs for disabled persons.
The need for an emotional support animal is not grounds for reasonable accommodation under the americans with disabilities act.
We will address commonly asked questions and provide tips on how to inform your landlord you have an esa.
Although the law is on your side telling your landlord you have an emotional support animal can be stressful.
But it is under fair housing laws.
As a landlord you have the right to ask your tenant the following questions about their emotional support animal.
As a landlord you must offer reasonable accommodation to renters with emotional support animals or someone who develops a need for one while they are your tenant.
If the animal causes damage or becomes a threat to other tenants in the building.
