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**CordMcNally** · 07-08-2019, 10:33 AM

I didn't think that emotional support animals had any legal standing. I wouldn't rent to them. In general, I find people with emotional support animals to typically come with other issues.

**StarTrekDoc** · 07-08-2019, 10:39 AM

Did they pass credit check and personal references and ability to pay the rent given expenses with down? If not for all those, then no worry but need to have a set standard to deny if challenged.

**adventure** · 07-08-2019, 10:53 AM

CordMcNally wrote:

I didn’t think that emotional support animals had any legal standing.

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This Bigger Pockets page is interesting, https://www.biggerpockets.com/forums/52/topics/574351-landlord-esa-question

and it links to the ADA 2010, which has a very clear definition: https://www.ada.gov/service_animals_2010.htm

it also has a section about miniature horses.

These ADA FAQs: https://www.ada.gov/regs2010/service_animal_qa.html

There is more clear guidance there. I think asking said renters to jump through hoops, etc is on option.

And... maybe now is a good time to sell anyway. Might be better able to deploy the capital elsewhere, to some place with less headaches (and risk), but mostly less hassle.

**jacoavlu** · 07-08-2019, 10:53 AM

What documentation have you asked for to ascertain the validity of these animals qualifying as emotional support animals? You should be safe to do so if nothing else to buy a little bit of time.

What’s to stop them at just two dogs?

**ENT Doc** · 07-08-2019, 04:56 PM

You can’t say “sorry, no pets?” I’ve done this for 8 years. It’s my place and no one is going to force me to take a tenant with pets. The emotional support aspect is irrelevant.

**VagabondMD** · 07-08-2019, 06:04 PM

I saw the capital “W” in the title, and my first reaction was WCICON! So what is the ESA policy at WCICON, anyway?

**Lordosis** · 07-08-2019, 06:38 PM

Add this to the reasons that make owning RE less passive, more work. I can see how RE can be useful in your portfolio but this is yet another example of a risk that can make it more of a liability.

If the market is favorable in the area to sell I would take this opportunity. It sounds like they are waving a big red flag at you and there is little you can do to avoid it.

Ask for documentation. Hopefully they do not have a sell out physician who will just write this note.

I was hoping the ESA was a chicken/Rooster!

**FIREshrink** · 07-08-2019, 08:31 PM

My reading of the law, confirmed by property manager, is that ESAs are explicitly protected by the FairHousing Act, and I cannot refuse. If I had another applicant I could choose another for another reason, but not this reason. Housing is one of the few explicitly protected areas for ESAs, different than trained service animals which are widely protected by the ADA. Apparently there is an exception for SFHs but you lose that if you use a property manager as it's viewed as a professional endeavor. There is no limit to the type of animal nor to the number of animals permitted. They could have four dogs. Or two chickens. Or both.

It makes me sad to sell the property as it's a cute house and has appreciated a lot in six years and continues to do so. It's basically been throwing off $10k per year net of all taxes, fees, repairs, payments, etc. On $187k down that's pretty nice. This excludes the appreciation which has been stellar though obviously that can't continue forever.

**MPMD** · 07-08-2019, 08:45 PM

FIREshrink wrote:

Our manager doesn’t mince words. His feeling about ESAs was, “Since these are people who skirt the rules, we run into problems with them… they don’t follow the rules…”

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I feel like this would be my take and my approach.

I'm confused, why do you have to rent to them? If I apply to rent from another private citizen can't they basically just say "it's not a good fit" and move on? Once they've passed the check etc are you required to rent to them?

I would want to know how the law defines emotional support animals very specifically.

As a last resort couldn't you say that you decided to do some improvements rather than rent and then slap a slow coat of paint on until this person moved on?

Also have you tried to chat with the prospective tenant as a normal person to a hopefully normal person? "Look I know these dogs are important to you but I have only had bad experiences with them. If you want to force my hand on this you can, but is that the best way for us to start this relationship?"

**DocNextDoor** · 07-08-2019, 08:46 PM

You are legally allowed to ask for a letter from a mental health professional that the dog will provide disability related assistance or emotional support, this may deter them or allow time for another applicant.

You can also charge for any damage to the property beyond normal (no dog) wear and tear.

**MPMD** · 07-08-2019, 08:52 PM

DocNextDoor wrote:

You are legally allowed to ask for a letter from a mental health professional that the dog will provide disability related assistance or emotional support, this may deter them or allow time for another applicant.

You can also charge for any damage to the property beyond normal (no dog) wear and tear.

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reviewed some links.

i think i would also do this and looking at one of those links above ask them to have a signed letter from a healthcare professional indicating what specific service the dog provided. if it's a seeing eye dog it's simple. but i think the doc is going to feel much less comfortable signing a form for an apartment when asked to specifically note what the dog does.

if nothing else it's another fairly reasonable hoop to create.

**MrsIMDoc** · 07-08-2019, 09:24 PM

I would put the house on the market at a high asking price for the next month to give them time to find another place to live. Then you can choose to sell if you get a buyer. If you do not then you can put it back on the rental market but with a much higher rent. You can also with the new renters have a much higher deposit to cover cost of damage (not pet deposit just regular deposit). I am not an expert just an idea.

**jfoxcpacfp** · 07-08-2019, 09:25 PM

MPMD wrote:

I’m confused, why do you have to rent to them? If I apply to rent from another private citizen can’t they basically just say “it’s not a good fit” and move on? Once they’ve passed the check etc are you required to rent to them?

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You can say that but if you are saying that to a member of a protected class (and this one, I just don't get), it is much easier for that person to sue, especially if you've already given them the ammunition:

MPMD wrote:

“Look I know these dogs are important to you but I have only had bad experiences with them. If you want to force my hand on this you can, but is that the best way for us to start this relationship?”

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I would try to let go of the emotional attachment to the place and realize it's been a great run and could have turned out a lot worse. A well-balanced equity portfolio sounds so much simpler - that's true "passive income".

**The White Coat Investor** · 07-08-2019, 09:26 PM

Vagabond MD wrote:

I saw the capital “W” in the title, and my first reaction was WCICON! So what is the ESA policy at WCICON, anyway?

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Emotional support reptiles only.

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emotional support animals come home to roost: WWYD?

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