Sample ESA Accommodation Request Letter for Your Landlord
The accommodation request letter is the note YOU send your landlord asking them to make an exception for your emotional support animal — it’s separate from your clinician’s ESA letter, which you attach as proof. People mix these two up constantly. Below is a sample you can copy, fill in, and send.
Under the federal Fair Housing Act, emotional support animals have housing rights. Landlords must reasonably accommodate assistance animals, and the way you trigger that obligation is by submitting a reasonable-accommodation request. This article gives you the request itself. For the bigger picture on whether your dog qualifies, start with Can a Terrier Be an Emotional Support Animal?.
The Sample Letter
Copy this, replace every [bracketed] placeholder with your details, and keep the tone plain and businesslike.
[Your Full Name]
[Your Unit Number and Building Address]
[Date]
[Landlord or Property Manager Name]
[Management Company / Address]
Re: Request for Reasonable Accommodation — Assistance Animal
Dear [Landlord/Property Manager Name],
I am a tenant at [your address, unit number]. I am writing to
request a reasonable accommodation under the federal Fair Housing
Act so that I may keep an assistance animal (an emotional support
animal) in my home.
I have a disability-related need for this animal. Attached is a
letter from my licensed mental-health professional confirming that
the animal is necessary to help with the effects of my condition.
My animal is a [breed/description], named [pet's name], weighing
approximately [weight]. The animal is housebroken and will be kept
under my control and care at all times. I remain responsible for
the animal's behavior and for any actual damage it may cause.
I understand this is a request to waive any pet-related fees,
deposits, or breed or weight restrictions for this assistance
animal, consistent with HUD guidance. Please let me know in writing
if you need any further information.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
Sincerely,
[Your Signature]
[Your Printed Name]
[Phone] / [Email]What Each Part Is Doing
The subject line names it as a reasonable accommodation request for an assistance animal. That exact framing matters — it puts your landlord on notice that this is a Fair Housing matter, not a casual “can I have a dog?” ask.
The disability-related need sentence does the legal work without oversharing. You state that you have a need and that a clinician confirms it. You do not name your diagnosis, describe symptoms, or attach medical records. Your landlord is allowed to ask for verification that the animal is needed, but they are not entitled to your diagnosis or full medical history. Keep that line vague on purpose.
The animal description is brief and reassuring — breed, name, weight, housebroken. For terrier owners this is also where a breed-restricted building’s objection quietly evaporates, since breed and weight limits generally don’t apply to assistance animals. (If your landlord pushes back on breed anyway, see How to Dispute a Breed Restriction With Your Landlord.)
The liability line is there to build goodwill and is also just true: you stay on the hook for any real damage your dog causes. Saying so up front signals you’re a responsible tenant, not someone gaming the system.
The fees sentence politely flags that no pet rent or pet deposit applies, per HUD guidance — so the landlord doesn’t reflexively hand you a pet addendum.
What to Attach (and What Not To)
Attach exactly one thing: your clinician’s ESA letter. That letter — written by a licensed mental-health professional who has actually evaluated you — is the only document with legal standing in this whole process. There is no official ESA registry, and any “certificate” or “registration” sold online without an evaluation is decorative paper that proves nothing.
If you don’t have a legitimate letter yet, get one through a proper clinical evaluation rather than a $30 instant-certificate site. We walk through the difference in How to Get an ESA Letter (Without Falling for a Scam).
Do not attach: your diagnosis in writing, therapy notes, prescription records, or any medical paperwork beyond the letter. The clinician’s letter is the verification. Anything more is oversharing you’ll wish you hadn’t.
How to Send It
Send it in a way that creates a paper trail. Email is fine and timestamps itself; if you mail a hard copy, keep a dated copy for yourself. The goal is a record showing you made a clear, written request on a specific date.
Then wait for a written response. Most landlords, once they see “Fair Housing Act” and a real clinician’s letter, will say yes — they know the rules. A landlord can only deny in narrow situations: your specific dog has demonstrated genuinely dangerous behavior, the accommodation is a true undue burden, or the building falls under a Fair Housing exemption. “We don’t allow that breed” and “we charge a pet deposit” are not valid reasons for an assistance animal.
Keep your copy filed. If the request is ever ignored or wrongly denied, that dated record is exactly what you’ll need to follow up or file a complaint.
Related Questions
Is the accommodation request letter the same as the ESA letter?
No. The ESA letter is written by your licensed mental-health professional and is the document with actual legal standing. The accommodation request letter is the one YOU write to your landlord, asking for a reasonable accommodation under the Fair Housing Act. You send your request and attach the clinician’s letter as supporting verification.
Do I have to tell my landlord my diagnosis?
No. Your landlord may ask for verification that the animal is needed — that’s what the clinician’s letter provides — but they may not demand your diagnosis or your full medical records. Your request letter should say you have a disability-related need for the animal without naming the condition.
Can my landlord charge a pet deposit or pet rent for my ESA?
No. Per HUD guidance, an assistance animal is not treated as a pet, so no pet rent or pet deposit applies, and breed or weight restrictions generally don’t either. You do remain liable for any real damage your terrier actually causes, the same as any tenant.
What if my landlord ignores or denies the request?
Send the request in writing and keep a dated copy. A landlord can only deny for narrow reasons: your specific dog’s actual dangerous behavior, a genuine undue burden, or certain building exemptions. If none apply and they still refuse, you can file a fair-housing complaint with HUD.