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Emotional Support Animals (ESAs) provide comfort to individuals with mental health conditions. To officially recognize an animal as an ESA, the owner needs to obtain an ESA letter issued by a licensed mental health professional (LMHP).
The following article has been written to help individuals identify reliable ESA letters to receive their proper benefits and avoid scams. So, how can you spot a reliable online ESA letter? Let's find out.
With the surge of online services offering these letters, the standards for such letters have come under question.
An ESA letter is a document from a licensed health professional stating the necessity of an emotional support animal for a person with a diagnosed health condition. This letter grants legal protections under the Fair Housing Act (FHA) allowing individuals to live with their ESA in pet-restricted housing.
An ESA letter must be issued by a licensed health professional, such as a psychologist, psychiatrist, clinical social worker, or licensed counselor to be valid. The letter should contain information about the professional relationship between the Health Professional (HP) and the patient, the diagnosis of an appropriate health condition, and information on why the ESA is part of the patient’s treatment plan.
A reliable ESA letter provides much-needed legal protections for tenants with disability-related needs. Its purpose is to provide landlords with a simple way to prove that the tenant needs the ESA when pets are otherwise not allowed in the building.
Using unreliable methods to obtain ESA letters, undermines the credibility of legitimate ESA requests, making it harder for those with genuine needs to be taken seriously, hurting everyone in the process.
The letter is from a licensed professional with verifiable credentials.
It should describe a direct professional relationship between the health professional and the patient, including an assessment that affirms the patient needs their ESA.
Finally, it should include the date it was issued and the duration for which it is valid (typically one year).
Verifying the reliability of Emotional Support Animal (ESA) letters is crucial for property managers and owners to maintain the integrity of housing policies and comply with legal obligations.
Proper verification helps ensure that only individuals with genuine mental or emotional disabilities benefit from the protections afforded by the Fair Housing Act (FHA).
• Ensure the letter is signed by a licensed health professional such as a psychologist, psychiatrist, social worker, or therapist.
• Confirm the credentials and licensing status of the professional through state licensing boards or professional associations.
• The letter should state that the resident has a disability-related need for the assistance animal.
• The letter should specify that the ESA is needed for housing.
• A reliable ESA letter requires a thorough evaluation of the resident’s health by a health professional.
• Ensure that the resident had a proper consultation, either in-person or via a legitimate telehealth service.
• Often with online letters there is only a short questionnaire that a resident will fill out, which does not establish a professional relationship with a healthcare provider.
• If in doubt, contact the HP who issued the letter directly to verify they have a working relationship with the resident.
• Be careful not to ask any questions regarding the disability of the resident.
• ESA letters are typically valid for one year. Ensure the tenant provides a current letter and understands the renewal process, which involves re-evaluation by the LMHP.
• If you’re uncertain about the legitimacy of an ESA letter, seek advice from legal professionals or third-party ESA screening services.
For a trusted platform to do the work for you, you can take a look at our service. OurPetPolicy is an animal management and ESA verification service tailored for property owners and managers. Here’s what you can expect:
• Thorough verification processes to confirm ESA letters are from licensed mental health professionals.
• Detailed recordkeeping of tenant documentation.
• A user-friendly interface that’s easy to navigate.
• Legal compliance with federal and state ESA regulations.
• Offering support and resources for property managers to understand ESA letter requirements and how they should proceed with verifying them.
ESA letters are essential for those who need their emotional support animals. Their reputation mustn’t suffer due to bad practices, and that’s why the reputation of legitimate ESA letters is so important.
