Navigating the NYC Rental Market with Your Emotional Support Animal

Introduction:

Renting an apartment in busy, bustling NYC can be both thrilling and challenging. For those with pets or emotional support animals (ESAs), the process adds an extra layer of complexity. According to the NYC Commission on Human Rights, housing providers, including shelters and other forms of temporary or supportive housing, must permit residents to keep emotional support animals as a reasonable accommodation for a disability, unless it would cause an undue hardship to the housing provider…but is this always the case?

While having an ESA shouldn’t technically affect your search experience, depending on the landlord, it can definitely complicate things. However, with the right information and approach, finding a pet-friendly space in NYC can be a (slightly) less complicated experience. In this blog, we will first cover what an ESA is, and then discuss the different ways you can proceed with your apartment search if you have an ESA.

What are Emotional Support Animals?

Let us first define Emotional Support Animals. ESA’s are “companions” that play a crucial role in providing comfort and companionship to individuals dealing with mental health issues. Recognized by law, ESAs are not considered pets but rather therapeutic companions that offer emotional support to their owners.

To be considered an ESA, your pet must have the appropriate documentation. Written documentation from an appropriate professional (such as a doctor, social worker, rehabilitation counselor, or other reliable and relevant sources) and include disability-related information supporting the need for an emotional support animal. If you have an animal that will be moving with you, getting this documentation will be necessary should you decide to pursue a building that is not technically “pet friendly”. If you’re only looking at Pet Friendly buildings, you will most likely not require this documentation. More information on service animals here.

Knowing Your Rights and Preparing Your Documentation:

In New York City, individuals with emotional support animals have rights protected by law. The Fair Housing Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) ensure that landlords cannot discriminate against tenants with ESAs. It's essential to familiarize yourself with these rights to navigate the rental process confidently. You can read more on FAQ’s regarding ESA’s here.

To streamline the rental process, be prepared with the necessary documentation for your emotional support animal. This typically includes a letter from a licensed mental health professional confirming the need for an ESA. Having these documents readily available can help landlords understand and comply with legal requirements.

2 Options When Searching:

When reaching out to potential landlords, management companies or brokers, there are really two ways to go about touring. First, you can communicate openly and honestly about your emotional support animal. Provide them with the documentation and reassure them of your commitment to maintaining a clean and well-behaved living environment. Clear communication can foster understanding and cooperation. The alternative, second, option is a little less straightforward. If you want to consider both pet friendly and non pet friendly buildings, you can, technically, keep the info regarding your ESA to yourself, and simply apply with the basic application that the apartment is requiring. Once you are approved for the apartment, you can bring up your animal.Because landlords can’t deny you due to an ESA, it shouldn;t cause too much of an issue (although it may strain the relationship you have with your landlord moving forward).

To avoid any confusion before you tour, you can ask questions about the building's pet policies, pet fees, and any restrictions that may apply. Understanding these details upfront can save you from surprises later on and ensure a harmonious living arrangement for both you and your ESA. The main downside is that if a building is not pet friendly, whoever you reach out to show you the apartment will probably not answer your inquiry and almost definitely will NOT show you the apartment. It really comes down to whether or not you wanna be upfront and honest, or whether you want to maximize your options.

If You Want To Be Safe, Research Pet-Friendly Apartments Only:

While having an ESA shouldn’t affect a landlord’s decision in accepting your rental application, mentioning that you have an ESA after you’ve been accepted for an apartment may strain the relationship you have with your landlord. If you want to be proactive in avoiding ANY potential issues, then before diving into the rental market, you should conduct thorough research to find pet-friendly apartments ONLY. While many landlords in NYC should be open to renters with emotional support animals, it can be helpful (and less stressful) to narrow down your options to places that explicitly welcome ESAs.

Conclusion:

Renting an apartment in New York City with an emotional support animal may present its challenges, but with awareness of your rights, proper documentation, and effective communication, it is entirely achievable.

One method to get approved, is simply to not inform the landlord of your ESA. While this method will maximize your options, it may upset the landlord when they find out and ultimately cause issues with your tenant-landlord relationship. Alternatively, you can strictly focus your search on Pet Friendly buildings. This method is a little more straightforward, but it’s important to note that it may limit the amount of options you have during your search. In any case, by approaching the process with patience and flexibility, you can find a pet-friendly haven in the greatest city in the world that welcomes both you and your supportive companion.