Can your emotional service dog make you exemt from monthly fees and deposits?

[Taylor]

I am a college student who is out of state. I have suffered from anxiety and depression for several years now. My dog back home had previously helped with all of those issues so I was considering getting one and registering it as an ESA while in school since I am so far away. My apartment complex allows pets but requires a large immediate deposit and monthly payments which I cannot afford. Would I be exempt from those payments if I get a dog and register it as my ESA?

[Belovedmen623]

Why not. This overused trend is being used in all sorts of ways to get special treatment for, and with, any old mutt.

[Patrick B]

Why would you think you'd be exempt?

The large security deposit is in case the dog damages the apartment. A service dog has just as much chance to do damage as a pet, so no you're not exempt.

[mariahleadme]

To have an ESA in 'no-pets' housing, the person must be elderly or meet the legal definition of being mentally ill or disabled, be under the continuous care of a professional psychiatrist or psychologist, have an established treatment plan in place for the mental illness or disability, and have the psychiatrist or psychologist make an assertion that the presence of the animal is deemed a necessary part of the ongoing treatment regimen.

Then the person must file and have approved a "Request for Reasonable Accommodation" with the landlord/manager/owner BEFORE bringing the animal on the premises. The Request should state why the animal is being requested, include the treating psychiatrists or psychologists written affirmation (on the office letterhead) that the animal is part of the persons treatment regimen for their mental illness or disability, and show that the person has the proper levels of liability insurance on the animal being requested.

One cannot simply have a 'doctor' write a 'note' which will magically allow them to have their dog with them. One must follow the proper legal protocol and procedure.

There is no 'national registry' from which one can have their dog 'certified' from, as every registry currently available is nothing but a scam and a fraud intended to separate stupid people from their money. ALL of the websites offering to 'certify' or 'register' any dog are frauds and scams, as there is no legal 'certification', 'registration' or 'ID' recognized or required by law with regards to service dogs and ESA’s. Landlords are becoming more aware of this and when someone shows up with one of these wastepaper 'certifications', they are turned down right away.

ESA's are subject to weight and breed limitations.
See here for more information:

http://www.fairhousing.com/include/media...idance.pdf
http://portal.hud.gov/hudportal/document...013-01.pdf
http://www.hud.gov/offices/fheo/FINALRUL...l_Rule.pdf

Be certain that this is something you really want to do. The designation of being mentally ill or disabled by a mental illness is something that will affect you for the rest of your life. The designation of being mentally ill or disabled by mental illness is part of your public record which is available for viewing by potential employers, law enforcement agencies, business owners, landlords and rental agencies, real estate offices, banking institutions, credit extenders, social services agencies, and anyone else who wishes to view your public records.