An emotional support animal (ESA) is one of the best pets that you can have. In fact, these companions go beyond pets, and you’ll find that they have some unique protections under the Fair Housing Act (FHA). This allows them to live in housing that’s not usually pet-friendly. Moreover, you don’t have to worry about paying pet fees.
While this may sound great, you’ll need a valid ESA letter if you want to enjoy these benefits. So, who can write an ESA letter? Well, in this guide, we answer any questions you may have. Read on to learn more.
What Is an Emotional Support Animal (ESA)?
First and foremost, it’s important to understand what an emotional support animal (ESA) is. In short, an ESA is a companion that’s protected under the Fair Housing Act (FHA), which allows them to live in housing that’s not usually pet-friendly. The purpose of an ESA is to provide support for people who struggle with mental health disorders.
Unlike service animals, ESAs can be any type of animal, and you’ll find that emotional support animals can help with anxiety, depression, loneliness, and a wide variety of mental health conditions. You’ll also find that emotional support animals don’t require any unique or specialized training. Instead, it comes down to ensuring that your ESA is well-behaved and not threatening to other tenants.
What Is an Emotional Support Animal (ESA) Letter?
An emotional support animal letter is a letter that’s written and signed by a licensed mental health professional (LMHP). The purpose of this letter is to indicate to landlords and other housing organizations that you need an ESA to assist with your mental health. If you want to enjoy the benefits that come from the Fair Housing Act (FHA), you need to have this ESA letter.
Unfortunately, if you don’t have it or have one from an LMHP in a different state, your letter won’t be valid. Not only will this result in pet fees, but you may also be liable for eviction and penalties.
How Much Does an ESA Letter Cost?
An emotional support animal is not free. Unless you already work with a healthcare provider and it’s covered by your insurance company, you’ll need to pay a fee. The good news is that the fee doesn’t have to be anything outlandish. In fact, you’ll find that many online options only charge around $100 for a legitimate ESA letter that’s signed by an LMHP in your state.
That said, it’s important to watch out for scams. If you find ESA letters that only cost around $25 to $50, this is a red flag.
Who Can Write an ESA Letter?
It’s important to note that only some people can write an ESA letter. So, no, you can’t write an ESA letter yourself and start enjoying the benefits outlined by the FHA. Instead, you need to work with a licensed mental health professional (LMHP).
That said, this is where things get a little bit complicated. You’ll find that ESA letters are only valid if they come from an LMHP who has a license in your state. If they’re not from your state, you won’t be able to live with an ESA without paying pet fees.
It’s also important to note that some states handle these rules differently. For example, LMHPs need to maintain a therapeutic relationship with someone for 30 days in order for an ESA letter to be valid. Unfortunately, this can make it tricky if you want to go the telehealth route.
Who Can Write an ESA Letter? Our Final Thoughts
So, who can write an ESA letter? At the end of the day, any licensed mental health professional (LMHP) can write an ESA letter. While this may be the case, that doesn’t always mean they’ll write you a valid ESA letter. This is because ESA letters must come from someone licensed in your state to be valid.
For this reason, we always recommend using a service that ensures you get an ESA letter in your state. The good news is that there are plenty of great online services that can help you, like Emotional Support Animal.