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What to Do After Getting an ESA Letter?
Send your ESA letter to your landlord as a written reasonable accommodation request. Then track the reply and keep your records safe.
The rules changed in May 2026. HUD rescinded its ESA housing guidance. Landlords now review each request on its own facts. That makes each step below more important than before.
This guide shows you how to check your letter and send it. It explains your rights and your limits. It also covers what landlords can ask and what to do when you move.
Key Takeaways
Check Three Details First: Your letter needs a license number and an issue date. It also needs the clinician's signature and contact details.
Send It in Writing: Email your landlord a reasonable accommodation request. Attach a digital copy of your ESA letter.
HUD Changed the Rules in 2026: HUD rescinded its ESA guidance on May 22, 2026. Landlords now review each request case by case.
Landlords Can Verify but Not Pry: Your landlord can check your clinician's license. Your landlord does not need your medical records.
Housing Only: An ESA letter does not cover airlines or stores. Only trained service animals get public access.
What Are the 4 Steps to Take With a New ESA Letter?
Following four steps turn your new ESA letter into a housing accommodation.
An ESA letter is a signed note from a licensed mental health professional. It confirms that you need your animal because of a disability. Follow these steps in order:
Step 1: Check Your ESA Letter
Check three details on your letter before you send it.
- Clinician license: The license number and the state that issued it.
- Issue date: The date the clinician signed the letter.
- Signature and contact details: The clinician's name and signature with a phone number or email on letterhead.
A digital signature is valid. You do not need a letter signed in ink.
Many landlords also prefer a letter issued in the past 12 months. That is a landlord practice. It is not federal law.
Missing details can slow your request down. Compare yours with what a valid ESA letter looks like before you send it. Ask your clinician to fix any gaps.
Step 2: Notify Your Landlord and Send a Digital Copy
Email your landlord a short accommodation request with a digital copy of your letter attached.
- Write a short request. Use the words "reasonable accommodation request."
- Attach a digital copy. Keep the original for yourself.
- Send it to the right person. That may be your property manager or your HOA or your condo or co-op board.
- Send it before the animal moves in. You can send it before or after signing your lease.
- Save a paper trail. Keep every email and reply with its date.
A short email is enough. You can adapt this one:
Subject: Reasonable Accommodation Request for [Unit / Address]
Dear [Landlord / Property Manager],
I am requesting a reasonable accommodation to live with my emotional support animal. My letter from a licensed mental health professional is attached. Please confirm your decision in writing.
Thank you, [Your Name] / [Phone or Email]
Need help with the wording? Follow the full ESA accommodation request process for tips and edge cases.
Step 3: Understand Your Rights
The Fair Housing Act lets you ask your landlord for a reasonable accommodation to live with your ESA.
This right comes from the Fair Housing Act. It applies to most rentals. It also applies to many HOAs and condos.
What changed in 2026? For years HUD guidance treated ESAs like other assistance animals. That guidance also told landlords not to charge pet fees for ESAs. On May 22, 2026 HUD's Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity (FHEO) rescinded it.
Before May 22, 2026 | After May 22, 2026 |
HUD's 2020 notice treated ESAs like other assistance animals | HUD rescinded the 2020 notice and the 2013 notice |
The notice said landlords should not charge pet fees for ESAs | HUD no longer expects landlords to waive fees as a blanket rule |
Most ESA requests were expected to be approved | Each request is reviewed case by case |
The Fair Housing Act itself did not change. The 2026 memo changes how HUD handles complaints. You can still ask for an accommodation. Your landlord now weighs each request on its own facts.
Two more points matter. HUD-assisted housing still exempts assistance animals from its pet rules. Some states also add their own ESA protections. To see what the change means for tenants, read how HUD enforces ESA rules today.
Step 4: Understand Your Limitations
Your ESA letter covers housing and does not grant public access or free air travel.
Place | Does Your ESA Letter Apply? |
Rentals, HOAs and condos | Yes. You can request an accommodation. |
Airlines | No. Airlines can treat ESAs as pets. |
Hotels | No. Hotel pet policies apply. |
Stores and restaurants | No. Only trained service animals have public access. |
The airline change dates to 2021. A U.S. Department of Transportation rule removed ESAs from the service animal definition. Check your airline's pet policy before you book.
Some people need their animal in public places or in the cabin. A psychiatric service dog is trained to do tasks. It has wider access than an ESA.
What Can Your Landlord Ask For After You Send It?
Your landlord can confirm your letter is real but does not need your full medical records.
Most landlords check the clinician first. They want to know the license is active and the letter is genuine. You can learn the exact checks in this guide on how landlords verify an ESA letter.
Your Landlord Can | Your Landlord Should Not |
Check the clinician's license | Ask for your medical records or therapy notes |
Contact the clinician to confirm the letter | Ask for detailed diagnosis information |
Ask how the animal helps with your need | Charge an application fee to review your request |
Ask basic questions about the animal | Ignore your request without a reply |
Every RealESALetter.com letter includes the clinician's state license number, issue date, and direct contact information so landlords can verify credentials independently.
Answer verification questions in writing. Share only what the request needs.
What Happens After Your Landlord Reviews Your Letter?
Your landlord can approve the request or ask questions or deny it.
Your Landlord Approves the Request
You can bring your ESA home. Keep your animal calm and clean. Property damage is still your cost. An animal that poses a direct threat to others can lose its accommodation.
Your Landlord Asks Questions
Questions are a normal part of the review. This back-and-forth is called the interactive process. Answer each question in writing. Keep a copy of every reply.
Your Landlord Does Not Reply
Follow up in writing after a reasonable wait. Mention the date of your first request. Keep both messages together.
A denial does not always end the matter. Learn your next moves when an ESA letter is rejected by a landlord.
What Should You Do When You Move or Your Letter Gets Old?
Send your letter to every new landlord and get a fresh letter when yours is close to a year old.
- Moving: Send your letter to the new landlord before the animal moves in.
- New state: Each state can add its own ESA rules. Find out when an out-of-state ESA letter still works.
- Letter age: Federal law sets no expiration date on an ESA letter. Many landlords still ask for one from the past 12 months.
Plan your ESA letter renewal a few weeks before the one-year mark. Your records then stay current when your lease comes up.
Conclusion
Your next step is to check your letter and send it in writing. Track the reply and keep copies. Renew your letter before it turns one year old. Don't have a letter yet? Start your ESA evaluation with a licensed clinician in your state.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is allowed to see your ESA letter?
Only your landlord or the staff handling your housing request needs to see it. You do not need to show it to neighbors. Ask your landlord to keep it with your private tenant records.
Can you send your ESA letter through a tenant portal or text?
Yes. Any written method works if you keep a record of it. A tenant portal or email gives you a clear date stamp. A text works too. Take a screenshot as proof.
Where should you keep your ESA letter?
Keep a PDF copy on your phone and another in cloud storage. Save a printed copy at home as well. You can then send it fast to a new landlord.
Do you need to send your ESA letter again when your lease renews?
Often no. A landlord who already approved your ESA may not ask again. Some landlords do ask for a newer letter at renewal. Check your lease terms to be sure.
Can your landlord ask you to sign an ESA addendum?
Yes. An addendum can set normal tenant rules such as cleanup and damage. Whether pet fees apply now depends on your state law and your landlord's review. Read it closely before you sign.
Do you need to tell your roommates or neighbors about your ESA?
No. Your accommodation request is between you and your landlord. You may still choose to tell roommates who share your space.
Dr. Avery Langston is a health and wellness writer with 12+ years of experience covering ESA rights, housing laws, and mental health. As a senior contributor for RealESALetter, she helps readers understand ESA regulations and legal protections.
Darren Rafel is a licensed clinical social worker with active LCSW licenses across 13 states, including California, New Jersey, Texas, Florida, and Arkansas. He conducts ESA evaluations with direct clinical experience using pet therapy as part of mental health treatment.
Don't worry. Your pet stays with you.
Housing law is on your side
- 1A few questions. That's your paperwork
- 2A licensed therapist reviews your case
- 3Official ESA letter, ready to send
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