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How practical is it to "emotional support animal" your way into a "no pets" apartment? (hexbear.net)
submitted 2 years ago by to c/askchapo@hexbear.net
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Let's say you have two cats and you'd rather go homeless than them.

I'm not even sure it would open up my search to include anywhere I'd be able to afford.

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[–] 16 points 2 years ago (2 children)

Depends how brushed up on the ADA the landleech in question is. Registered Service Animals have protections under federal law, but ESAs don't.

Most people dont know the difference and it's 100% legal to make a very Official Looking document stating your cats are Medically Nessicary ESAs and imply they really shouldn't discriminate over such matters without a lawyer.

I've gotten my cat (and my ex-roomate her malamute) into a couple of different apartments run by large managment companies this way. The leasing agents at the desk arent paid enough to deal with it.

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  • [–] [S] 9 points 2 years ago* (1 child)

    It seems like California gives ESAs more legal weight than national law https://calcivilrights.ca.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/32/2022/12/Emotional-Support-Animals-and-Fair-Housing-Law-FAQ_ENG.pdf

    So I guess it's okay to try? I'm honestly terrified of doing anything what with my whole 'hanging on by a thread' deal lately. Do you keep it under your hat until you get a lease and then spring them on the landlord or do you bring it up while you're applying? I imagine it doesn't work so well when the 'apartment' is a bed+bath combo in some suburban house

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  • [–] 8 points 2 years ago (1 child)

    Absolutely try, worst that can happen is they say no. Bring it up early, you have nothing to hide after all! Have an air of 'I'm used to questions about my Very Legal animal, my apologies, let me clear this up'

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  • [–] [S] 4 points 2 years ago (1 child)

    The only problem I have with this is I gotta get into a new place =NOW=. I won't dramapost here but I'm living in a hotel room that if I try to keep up with the rent for another month I'll be homeless, and I've been working at an amazon for a month and the month of december is the only 'proof of income' paystubs I'll get anywhere with it looks like... so I basically have a two week window to trick a landlord into taking me. And then I'll get to live to fight another day to find a job that won't cut my hours to nothing after they use me up for a rush.

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  • [–] 4 points 2 years ago

    Ahhh, i see. Sorry you're having to go through all this comrade. Looking at your link, i think you should be ok with disclosing it with a copy of the relavent statutes and forging the equivalent of an ESA Dr's note. Seems Cali has pretty loose requirements for ESAs.

    That being said, if it gets a roof over your head, lie to the fuckers. You & yours having shelter matter more than hypothetical a lease violation later.

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