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If you are a California resident and have a dog you must establish a relationship of no less than 30 days with the therapist writing the ESA letter.
The law that requires this is the AB 468 law which was passed on January 1, 2022.
This law doesn’t apply to any other type of ESA.
With the cost of living soaring across the United States, many pet owners seeking rentals find themselves at a crossroads.
As a pet owner, you face two options: Take on the added financial burden of paying a pet deposit and pet rent to keep your beloved animals. Or surrender your pets in exchange for lower costs.
Both scenarios are jarring. But if you have a qualifying mental health condition, you can keep your peace of mind by declaring your pet an emotional support animal (ESA). You’ll save money on pet rent and keep your family together.
Pettable surveyed 1000s of individuals who obtained an ESA letter for housing needs, and after evaluating more than 25,000 data points, we found the real cost associated with finding pet-inclusive housing in the USA, and learned how more people are able to afford peace of mind and security with ESA qualification. We present our findings in the following article however here are some of the main takeaways.
Some quick results from survey respondents:
Average standard rent per month: $1700
Average income of survey respondents: $72,280
Average age of respondents: 34.5
Average annual pet rent for those who pay it: $684
Average lifetime pet rent costs for those who pay pet rent: $3,632
24% of respondents had small dogs
76% had medium or large breeds
Larger breeds resulted in a higher cost in pet fees per month, with 70% of owners paying over $50
Smaller breeds resulted in no fees or fees less than $50 a month
Florida and Washington state had the highest average monthly fees at $46+ a month
New York state had the highest average cost before pet rent with 15% of respondents paying more than $1000 a year.
64% of respondents said high fees and pet rent were a crucial factor in getting an ESA letter
80% of respondents says an ESA letter helped reduce or avoid pet fees all together
Only 6% of respondents said an ESA did not help or were not qualified for the letter
Keep reading to learn not just what pet-owning renters face in today’s market, but how to obtain an official ESA letter quickly and legally.
Rising rents and the shortage of inclusive housing
Skyrocketing rents across the United States are making the conversation about pet rent and the lack of inclusive, pet-friendly housing more urgent.
Zillow’s January 2024 Rental Market Report paints a grim picture. In the four years since the pandemic, the study found, “rental prices have surged 29.4%, averaging an annual increase of 7% each year.”
These increases hit almost every large metro area (47 of 50) where rents jumped from the previous year’s levels. Add pet fees to higher rents, and tenants’ monthly housing costs rise even more.
Rising rents wouldn’t necessarily be as big a problem if tenants’ purchasing power increased at the same rate.
But this isn’t the case. In a spring 2024 study from financial services company Empower, 62% of Americans claimed their “purchasing power and income in relation to prices is decreasing.” A bigger percentage, 82%, said their “money doesn’t go as far as it used to.”
Higher Stress for Low-Income Pet Owners
Things are even worse for the lowest-income renters. These individuals have fewer housing options, despite a 2024 University of Kansas study showing an “adequate” overall housing supply in 377 out of the 381 US metropolitan areas between 2000 and 2020.
The National Low Income Housing Coalition estimates a US shortage of 7.3 million rental homes for extremely low-income renters — “that is, incomes at or below either the federal poverty guideline or 30% of their area median income, whichever is greater.”
And if a low-income, pet-owning tenant is lucky enough to find housing, landlords can still charge more if they have pets — except in California. For low-income renters in particular, these extra charges make it even more likely they’ll have to give up their four-legged family member.
The challenges faced by both higher- and lower-income tenants raise the bigger issue of a lack of inclusive housing in the U.S. The Michelson Found Animals Foundation estimates as many as 72% of renters report difficulty finding inclusive housing where pets are as welcome as humans.
Until city and state housing regulations catch up to how people desire to live today, ESA letters help level the playing field.
Mental health declines as rents soar
Before you can obtain an ESA letter to waive pet fees, keep your pet, and reclaim peace of mind, you must have a qualifying mental health condition. Given the current housing crisis, among other issues, it’s no surprise peoples’ mental health is declining.
In a 2024 study from the American Psychiatric Association, “43% of adults say they feel more anxious than they did the previous year, up from 37% in 2023 and 32% in 2022.”
Deloitte zeroed in on Gen Zs and millennials — 42.6% of whom own pets, the highest percentage by generation. Deloitte learned they also have sky-high rates of stress: “40% of Gen Zs and 35% of millennials say they feel stressed or anxious all or most of the time.”
Under-represented groups are struggling even more. Deloitte estimates that six in ten disabled people, for example, have near-constant anxiety and stress.
Pets are an increasingly common way of dealing with stress and anxiety, and many young people are going as far as substituting their pets for children. In a 2023 USA Today survey of dog owners, 67% of respondents aged 18 to 26 said they chose getting a dog over having children, “at least for now.”
It’s hardly surprising, then, that a vast majority of US pet owners (97%) consider their pets part of the family, according to a 2023 Pew Research Center survey. The same study also points out that half of pet owners (51%) say their pets “are as much a part of their family as a human member.”
So suppose an already-anxious person has to lose not just a source of comfort but a beloved family member to afford a place to live. Their mental health will deteriorate even more.
With so many trends driving pet ownership, there’s never been a greater need for the peace of mind that ESA letters can offer.
How common are pet charges?
Pet charges are legal in all states, and 70% of our survey respondents report having to pay them at some point. These charges also vary widely by city and state.
“Even today,” notes Michelson Found Animals Industry Principal Judy Bellack, “most cities and states don’t limit what landlords can charge for pets. Colorado and California are notable exceptions.”
Seattle, for example, limits pet deposits to “25% of one month's rent … in addition to the security deposit and fees.”
It’s also important to understand the three types of pet charges landlords are free to demand from tenants. “Pet fees” seems generic, but technically they’re different from “pet deposits” and “pet rent.” Here’s how they differ:
Pet Rent
Pet rent is a monthly, non-refundable amount added to the standard rent.
Pet Deposits
A pet deposit is a one-time, refundable amount that covers the costs of pet damage. Don’t be surprised if a landlord charges both a pet deposit and pet rent. That combination is legal too.
Pet Fees
A pet fee is a one-time, non-refundable charge for having a pet in the rental. States like California ban non-refundable pet fees but allow refundable deposits.
Any combination of these three charges can take a serious bite out of a tenant’s annual income.
Pet owners with large dog breeds like standard poodles and labradors often face higher pet charges than owners of smaller breeds.
“This is unfortunate,” says Bellack of Found Animals, since “breed and behavior have very little correlation.”
Nevertheless, our study reveals that 69% of large-dog-breed owners pay more than $50 per month in pet rent. Only 29% of small-breed owners pay that much.
The reality, according to Bellack, is that “fewer than 10% of all pets cause damages of any kind,” and no single breed type is most responsible. The average damage amount totals $210, which most standard deposits more than cover.
How pet charges vary by state
It’s difficult to deny the value of an ESA letter when you consider how widely pet charges vary by state.
For example, since landlords often calculate pet rent as a percentage of standard rent, your pet expenses will likely be greater in high-rent states like California. But then you might have to spend more on a pet deposit in Ohio, which has no legal limit on this charge.
Of the ten states with the highest number of responses to our survey, Florida had the highest average monthly pet fees at $46.17. Texas had the lowest: $35.13.
Average cost of pet rent by state
Survey respondents who reported their pet charges pay an average of $684 per year per pet on pet rent alone.
So for the 33.24% of survey respondents with two pets, and the 8.94% with three, that yearly expense doubles or triples.
New York had the highest percentage of pet owners (15.2%) who paid $100 or more each month in pet rent. Illinois, on the other hand, had the highest percentage (42.9%) who paid only $21-$50 per month in pet rent alone.
Average cost of additional pet fees and deposits
A one-time pet deposit or non-refundable pet fee adds to the sting of pet rent.
Michelson Found Animals’ report finds that “pet-owning residents are paying an average of $864 in security and pet deposits, as well as $244 in one-time fees. That’s $1,108 before monthly pet rent kicks in.
This report also estimates that pet-owning residents pay $600 in annual pet rent, which is not far off our estimate of $684.
Percentage of tenants’ income spent on pet rent and related pet fees
Say you add the $1,108 from the Found Animals report to the $684 average pet rent our survey respondents pay. You could be looking at $1,792 in pet charges as a first-year, pet-owning tenant — essentially a thirteenth rent payment.
That $1,792 is 2.5% of $72,280, the average annual income reported in our survey. Which might seem manageable.
But don’t forget the impact of standard rent payments. Our survey-derived standard rent of $1,700 per month, added to first-year pet fees and rent, accounts for 30% of the average annual income. That extra 2.5% in pet rent and fees could pay for pet food and a vet visit.
And if you want to invite more animals to your household, you’ll see even more of your annual income eaten up by pet charges. Keep in mind that whenever landlords quote a cost for pet rent, fees, or deposits, in most cases the cost is per pet.
Before a survey respondent from Ohio with six pets and an annual income of $70,000 obtained an ESA letter, they had spent more than $25,000 over ten years on pet rent alone. That’s 3.6% of their annual income.
How an official ESA letter can set renters’ minds at ease
Is it possible to put a price tag on peace of mind? As a pet owner, you might say yes after considering how much you can save on pet charges over your lifetime with an ESA letter.
Respondents to our survey who shared their pet charges before getting an ESA letter paid an average of $3,722 in pet rent alone over 2.8 years. An ESA letter keeps that money in your bank account, along with what you would pay for a pet deposit or fees.
It’s no wonder then that 64% of our respondents called “pet rent and pet fees” an “extremely” important factor in their decision to get an ESA letter.
Financial and health benefits
Thirty-nine-year-old customer service manager Ashley was paying an extra $1,500 per month for two dogs in a two-bedroom, downtown Denver rental. Not only did an ESA letter help her financially, her ever-present ESA Maui helped manage her “high-functioning anxiety.”
Another ESA-letter recipient, Jonathan, told us of the dramatic improvement to his mental health when he adopted his ESA Cooper.
Jonathan has a high-pressure job that was affecting his sleep quality. Enter Cooper, and the “anxiety that used to keep me up at night has significantly lessened,” Jonathan shared. More than that: “Having Cooper as my ESA has genuinely transformed my life,” he said.
How to get a legal ESA letter
Reclaiming your peace of mind as a pet owner starts with getting a legal ESA letter. Fortunately, these letters are not difficult to get, but you must first visit a licensed mental health practitioner for an evaluation.
If the practitioner diagnoses you with any of the following challenges, they can recommend an ESA and write you an ESA letter:
Mood disorder
Learning disability
Substance use disorder
Cognitive disorder
Motor skill disorder
Autism spectrum disorder
Take our quiz today to find out if you qualify for an ESA.
Because of the financial benefits ESA letters offer tenants, fake ESA letters are flooding the market. While no hard data exists on how widespread they are, sixteen states will now charge you with a crime for tendering one to a landlord as genuine. So the problem isn’t a minor one.
California: Fake ESAs are a misdemeanor, and the penalty is up to six months in jail and/or a fine of up to $1,000.
Colorado: They’re a Class 2 petty offense, punishable by a fine of $25–$500.
Florida: As a second-degree misdemeanor, tendering a fake ESA is punishable by up to 60 days in jail, a fine of up to $500, and 30 hours of community service.
The bottom line? The penalty for tendering a fraudulent ESA letter can end up costing you more than applying for a legal one. Plus you might lose something more valuable than money: your freedom.
Legal ESA letters will have each of the following items:
The official letterhead of a licensed mental health professional (LMHP).
Letterhead contains their license number, practice name, and address.
An authentic signature.
An official diagnosis of your mental health condition.
Verification that an ESA in your home will help improve your condition.
If your ESA letter is missing any of this information, it’s likely fraudulent.
Enjoy peace of mind with an official ESA letter from Pettable
Pettable guarantees ESA-letter legitimacy, since we work with a network of licensed clinicians in all fifty states. You’ll enjoy its financial benefits and the peace of mind from knowing your pet is welcome anywhere — without the stress of wondering if your ESA letter is valid.
Ashley, owner of ESA Maui, was able to receive her ESA letter from Pettable in less than a week, calling the process “truly easy.”
