The Fair Housing Act (FHA is a federal law that states any person with a mental or physical disability cannot be turned away from housing with their certified service animal or emotional support animal. This includes building apartments that have a “no pet’s policy” in place.

Landlords and apartment managers are required to make a “reasonable accommodation” for both service and emotional support animals. Informing your landlord, you have an ESA can be more challenging than informing an airline you are traveling with an ESA. The main issue is that many landlords are unaware of ESA regulations. The first step you should take before informing your landlord about having an ESA is to understand your rights. Landlords may attempt to bully you by requesting sensitive medical records or your medical history. This is not legal and is in violation of Fair Housing standards. You do not need to give in to this pressure. Instead, you should stand up for yourself and other ESA handlers. Landlords and property managers must make reasonable accommodations for tenants or prospective tenants with Emotional Support Animals, even if the apartment, house, or college dorm does not allow pets.