Tenant tells me they want a pet and get an ESA letter when I deny

[Aram Y.]

I have a 4-year tenant living in a no-pet building. They texted me 1 year ago to say they may not want to renew their lease because they were looking to get a pet in the future - and to also to point out another tenant who had an ESA dog - that tenant has since moved out. I had responded at the time that pets were not allowed in the building, but that the other tenant had a legitimate reason and documentation to have one and had gone down the right path in doing so.

Now, a year later, just after a 1 year lease renewal, they have produced a very sketchy looking ESA letter (a letter typed on a Google document with no official letterhead) from a licensed therapist 120+ miles away indicating they need a cat as an ESA. The letter is dated exactly 30 days prior to when they submitted it to me - not sure if they were seeing them 30 days prior to that date. They are now talking about adopting a cat (using the word 'pet' as opposed to 'animal' - ESA).

IF they indicated they wanted to get a pet and were denied a year ago, can the ESA request be rejected as it's very likely bogus? Obviously, they went shopping for an ESA therapist who would give them a letter so they can get a pet. Can the therapist be called out for fraud as well?

100% ok if this tenant leaves - not a good or a bad tenant.

[Nathan Gesner]

Quote from @Aram Y.:

I have a 4-year tenant living in a no-pet building. They texted me 1 year ago to say they may not want to renew their lease because they were looking to get a pet in the future - and to also to point out another tenant who had an ESA dog - that tenant has since moved out. I had responded at the time that pets were not allowed in the building, but that the other tenant had a legitimate reason and documentation to have one and had gone down the right path in doing so.

Now, a year later, just after a 1 year lease renewal, they have produced a very sketchy looking ESA letter (a letter typed on a Google document with no official letterhead) from a licensed therapist 120+ miles away indicating they need a cat as an ESA. The letter is dated exactly 30 days prior to when they submitted it to me - not sure if they were seeing them 30 days prior to that date. They are now talking about adopting a cat (using the word 'pet' as opposed to 'animal' - ESA).

IF they indicated they wanted to get a pet and were denied a year ago, can the ESA request be rejected as it's very likely bogus? Obviously, they went shopping for an ESA therapist who would give them a letter so they can get a pet. Can the therapist be called out for fraud as well?

100% ok if this tenant leaves - not a good or a bad tenant.

Unfortunately, they are allowed to shop around for an ESA letter and there's not much you can do about it. You are allowed to reject fake documents. I would argue it's time to get rid of this tenant because they're going to continue pushing boundaries.