ESG and Service Pets

[Tessa Tsui]

This is in Pennsylvania.  Can you share what kind of proof you will require tenants to provide when they claim their pets are service pets/ ESG, will there be any different proofs between Service Pets and ESG? 

thank you

[Russell Brazil]

Im assuming you mean ESA, Emotional Support Animal. Under the Fair Housing Amendments Act of 1988, ESA's are a subset of service animal for the purposes of residential real estate. It is important to note the difference between FHA 1988, and the ADA, Americans with Disabilities act which governs Public Accommodations. Both laws use the same terms, but define them in completely different ways.

I find it best to reference HUD's guidance memos on the subject.

https://www.hud.gov/sites/dfiles/PA/documents/AsstAnimalsGui...

https://www.hud.gov/sites/dfiles/PA/documents/HUDAsstAnimalN...

https://www.hud.gov/sites/dfiles/FHEO/documents/19ServiceAni...

[Tessa Tsui]

thank you.  I read those articles before.  But I wanted to know what are other landlord's experiences and how they handle that?  nearly every single applicant will tell me their pet is either ESA or Service dog.  there are differences between ESA and Service Pets so I'm trying to understand what are the different proof the landlord will ask

[Sarah Brown]

I'm not in Pennsylvania but I use a site called Petscreening.com.  They do all of that for me.  I can't imagine they would exclude PA.  Either they get approved through the website, or they have to pay the fees. 

[Tessa Tsui]

thanks Sarah, i will check it out

[Nathan Gesner]

Quote from @Tessa Tsui:

You claim to have read those articles before, but you are using the wrong terminology and asking a question that is clearly answered by the resources Russell provided. You can't just glance at them. Print them off, study them, highlight them, make notes, read some blog posts, and understand the subject.

The second document he links includes precise definitions and a guide for landlords to use for screening support animals. You can use petscreening.com to handle this task for you and ensure you are compliant, but I still recommend you really understand the law so you can answer questions or assist with requests.