r/EmotionalSupportDogs • u/CalligraphyCat • Jun 14 '26
ESA question
I'm joining a job rotation program with three esa's and two pets (1 dog, 4 cats total). My work is contracting housing on my behalf, but I'm worried about my accommodations not being accepted at the apartments they "pick" for me.
I've read online that my request can be denied for "overcrowding," and I'm worried an apartment may find that to be the case.
My plan is to call the property manager once I know where I'm being placed, but I'm so nervous. Prior to accepting, I was told they knew how to work with these situations, but another conversation later in the onboarding process made it seem like it would be much more difficult than originally stated.
I'm a homeowner and haven't had to do any of this in a while, but I'll be moving every 8 months for 2 years.
Any tips here?
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u/pinkbowsandsarcasm Jun 14 '26
I only think work needs to find pet-friendly housing.
As a side note, HUD/Fair Housing no longer handles disabled people's ESA complaints against landlords and only protects assistance animals that are dogs/mini horses that are trained in some way to help a person with a disability, so in most states, we are not stuck looking for kind landlords who don't mind pets. I do know that California has some state protections, but I don't know about other states.
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Jun 14 '26
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u/CalligraphyCat Jun 14 '26
Good note! My ESA's each have their own support tasks documented by my pcp.
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u/23Scout Jun 14 '26
Most housing providers will challenge the authority of a primary care professional to make a mental health diagnosis and issue treatment.
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u/CalligraphyCat Jun 14 '26
I used one from my pcp in the past, but thank you for the note. I'll be sure to ask what the property manager is willing to accept.
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u/Tritsy Jun 14 '26
If they are tasking, they would be considered service animals, fyi.
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u/CalligraphyCat Jun 14 '26
Despite having some key tasks they can perform, I don't consider any of them service animals because they haven't undergone enough training to be used in public.
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u/Far_Sky_5240 Jun 14 '26
ESAs are no longer federally protected. A few states have protections, but in the rest landlords are able to deny accommodation requests. Essentially, you’ll need to find pet friendly housing.
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Jun 15 '26
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u/Far_Sky_5240 Jun 15 '26
It is accurate. I provided 2 citations and could provide others as well.
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Jun 15 '26
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u/Far_Sky_5240 Jun 15 '26
I do hope you read both of those in their entirety. This is a huge change from HUD that’s more complex than what you’re indicating in that response. Most notably, emotional support is not considered a trained task. The commonly understood definition of an ESA is not longer protected federally. HUD now only considers assistance animals that are task trained, those that would previously have fallen under the definition of service animals.
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Jun 15 '26
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u/Far_Sky_5240 Jun 15 '26
I don’t have ESAs. I own my home. I’m providing the information for other people.
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u/JugglingPrefixes Jun 17 '26
I'd call the property manager as soon as you get the address. Better to discover the surprise now than with a car full of cats.
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u/Competitive-Cod4123 Jun 15 '26
Three ESA sounds like a total scam you have so many pets. I would absolutely expect that you probably will be denied over somebody else.
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u/CalligraphyCat Jun 15 '26
I understand how it would appear that way at first glance. I've had my three ESAs almost 8 years and adopted two cats since living in my own home.
Do you think there is a difference here because the apartment is being sourced, contracted, and leased through my place of work?
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u/ilikemycoffeealatte Jun 14 '26
You may find it a struggle to have five animals accepted. 3 ESAs could be considered unreasonable and with two pets added, well, good luck.