How Landlords Can (and Cannot) Push Back on Your Emotional Support Animal Letter.

Presenting an Emotional Support Animal (ESA) letter to your landlord can feel intimidating—especially for busy parents like Meg, our Protector Parent. Meg is a 37-year-old mom of two young kids and their beloved golden retriever, Max. Recently moved into a rental in a mid-sized city like Phoenix or Atlanta, she’s juggling work as a nurse or teacher while worrying about pet deposits and whether the landlord will try to separate her family from the dog who brings her children comfort and stability.

For families like Meg’s, knowing exactly what a landlord can and cannot do makes all the difference. Under the Fair Housing Act (FHA), landlords have very limited grounds to deny or delay a legitimate ESA request.

What Landlords Are Allowed to Do

  1. Request a legitimate letter from a licensed mental health professional.

  2. Verify the provider’s credentials (check the license number or contact the therapist).

  3. Deny obviously fraudulent letters (no letterhead, no license info, etc.).

  4. Deny if the animal poses a direct threat or would cause substantial damage (based on the specific animal’s behavior, not stereotypes).

  5. Charge for actual damage the animal causes (same as any tenant).

What Landlords Are NOT Allowed to Do

Most common pushback tactics are actually illegal:

  • Demand your specific diagnosis or medical records

  • Require “registration,” ID cards, vests, or online certificates

  • Charge pet fees, deposits, or extra rent

  • Enforce breed, weight, or species restrictions

  • Ask for training proof (ESAs don’t need it)

  • Delay or ignore your request indefinitely

  • Retaliate in any way

Real-Life Examples of Illegal Pushback

  • “No pit bulls, ESA or not” → Illegal

  • “I need your full therapy notes” → Illegal privacy violation

  • “Pay the $300 pet deposit first” → Illegal

  • “Show me the official ESA registration” → Illegal (no such thing exists)

What to Do If Pushback Happens

  1. Politely educate them—share HUD’s official guidance.

  2. Offer verification contact info from your provider.

  3. File a free complaint with HUD or your state fair housing agency if needed (many cases resolve quickly, and landlords can face hefty fines).

A strong, legitimate ESA letter gives parents like Meg real peace of mind. When the documentation is clearly from a licensed professional, most landlords approve quickly once they understand the law. You have powerful federal protections—don’t let unnecessary worry keep your family from the emotional support you need.