Official Verification

Landlord & Property Manager Center

Verify the authenticity of an ExpertESA letter and understand your legal obligations under the Fair Housing Act.

Letter Verification
Verify a Letter
Enter the verification code printed on the letter, or upload the PDF to verify by file.
or
Your Obligations

What You Can and Can't Do Under the Fair Housing Act

Landlords and property managers have specific legal obligations regarding emotional support animals under 42 U.S.C. § 3604. Here's what the law requires.

You CAN
  • Request reliable documentation of the disability-related need for the animal, if the need isn't obvious, a letter from a licensed mental health professional is sufficient
  • Ask whether the animal is needed because of a disability and how it helps with that disability (you may not ask, as you would for an ADA service animal, "what work or task" the animal performs, ESAs aren't trained to perform tasks)
  • Deny a specific animal if it poses a direct threat to the health or safety of others, and no reasonable accommodation can eliminate the threat (case-by-case, not a categorical breed/size rule)
  • Deny the accommodation if it would impose an undue financial and administrative burden, or would fundamentally alter the nature of your housing operations
  • Hold the tenant responsible for any actual damage the ESA causes, beyond ordinary wear and tear
You CANNOT
  • Refuse to make a reasonable accommodation for a tenant with a valid ESA letter
  • Charge pet fees, pet deposits, or monthly pet rent for an emotional support animal
  • Require the tenant to disclose their specific diagnosis or medical records
  • Contact the tenant's therapist or mental health provider directly
  • Evict or threaten to evict a tenant solely because of their ESA
  • Enforce a "no pets" policy against a legally documented ESA
  • Require breed, weight, or size restrictions to apply to an ESA
What a Valid Letter Includes
An ExpertESA letter is written on the therapist's official letterhead, includes their license number and state, confirms the tenant has a disability-related need for an ESA, and is signed and dated. Letters are typically considered valid for one year; under prevailing industry practice and longstanding HUD/DOJ guidance on reasonable accommodations, a landlord may request renewal no more often than annually.
Tenant Privacy Protections Apply
Don't contact the issuing therapist to seek diagnostic information — under HIPAA, the clinician can disclose protected health information only with the tenant's written authorization. Tenants are not required to share their specific diagnosis, treatment history, or other protected health information. To independently confirm the letter is on file, use our public verification page above.
Refusal May Be a Violation
Refusing to honor a valid ESA letter without a legally sufficient reason may constitute a Fair Housing Act violation. Tenants have the right to file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), which can result in fines and legal action.
The Interactive Process
When a tenant requests a reasonable accommodation, you are legally required to engage in an "interactive process", a good-faith discussion to find a workable solution. Ignoring or outright denying the request without discussion is itself a violation.
No Categorical Size or Breed Restrictions
Unlike ADA service animals, ESAs are not limited to dogs and miniature horses. Under the Fair Housing Act's reasonable-accommodation framework (42 U.S.C. § 3604(f)) and the HUD/DOJ Joint Statement on Reasonable Accommodations, blanket breed bans, weight limits, and "approved animal" lists may not be applied categorically to emotional support animals. A landlord may still deny a specific animal that poses a direct, documented safety threat, but this requires individual assessment, not a categorical breed-or-weight rule.
Damage Is Still Your Tenant's Responsibility
Accepting an ESA does not mean absorbing damage costs. You may charge the tenant for any actual damage the ESA causes to the unit, beyond normal wear and tear, just as you would for any other damage. Document everything in writing.
Federal Law
Fair Housing Act, 42 U.S.C. § 3604(f)
The Fair Housing Act prohibits discrimination in housing on the basis of disability and requires landlords to make reasonable accommodations, including allowing emotional support animals. HUD guidelines clarify these obligations for all covered housing providers.
Read HUD's Official Guidance →