Emotional Support Animal Rules: What Every Landlord Must Know

Last month, I received a call from a landlord named Sarah who manages four rental properties in suburban Ohio. She was panicked because a tenant had just submitted a letter from a therapist requesting an emotional support animal — a 60-pound Labrador mix — in her strictly no-pets building. Sarah had spent years maintaining her pet-free policy, marketing it as a selling point to allergy-sensitive tenants. Now she was facing a request that seemed to undermine everything she'd built. "Can I just say no?" she asked me. "It's my property, right?" Understanding emotional support animal landlord rules is one of the most confusing and legally risky areas that independent landlords face today, and Sarah's situation is far more common than you might think.

Here's the reality: emotional support animals are not pets under federal law. They're a reasonable accommodation for people with disabilities, protected under the Fair Housing Act. This means your no-pets policy, your pet deposits, your breed restrictions — none of these apply in the same way when a legitimate ESA request lands on your desk. Get this wrong, and you could face fair housing complaints, costly settlements, and damage to your reputation that takes years to repair. Get it right, and you can protect both your tenants' rights and your property interests while staying on the right side of the law.

In this comprehensive guide, I'll walk you through everything you need to know about emotional support animals as an independent landlord. We'll cover the legal framework that governs ESAs, how to properly verify requests, what documentation you can and cannot ask for, the key differences between ESAs and service animals, state-specific variations you need to understand, and practical strategies for managing ESAs in your properties. Whether you manage one rental or fifteen, this guide will give you the confidence to handle any ESA situation professionally and legally. Let's dive in.

What You'll Learn in This Guide

• The federal laws that protect emotional support animals and why they override your standard pet policies
• How to properly verify ESA requests without violating fair housing laws or tenant privacy
• The critical differences between emotional support animals, service animals, and pets — and why these distinctions matter
• State-by-state variations in ESA laws and how they affect your obligations as a landlord
• Legitimate reasons you can deny an ESA request and how to document your decisions
• Practical strategies for managing ESAs in your properties while protecting your investment

Understanding the Legal Foundation: Fair Housing Act and ESAs

The Fair Housing Act of 1968 is the cornerstone of emotional support animal protections in housing. This federal law prohibits discrimination in housing based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, familial status, and disability. When it comes to ESAs, the disability provision is what matters most. Under the FHA, landlords must provide "reasonable accommodations" to tenants with disabilities, and allowing an emotional support animal is considered one such accommodation. For a deeper dive into all protected classes and your obligations, check out our complete Fair Housing Act landlords guide.

What makes the FHA so powerful is its broad reach. Unlike some disability laws that only apply to certain types of businesses or buildings, the Fair Housing Act covers nearly all housing in the United States. This includes single-family homes, apartments, condos, townhouses, and mobile homes. Even if you only own one rental property, you're likely subject to FHA requirements regarding emotional support animals. The only narrow exceptions are owner-occupied buildings with four or fewer units and single-family homes rented without the use of a broker — and even these exceptions have limits that we'll discuss later.

The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has issued guidance clarifying how the FHA applies to assistance animals, including ESAs. The most significant guidance came in January 2020 when HUD published FHEO-2020-01, which established clearer standards for verifying ESA requests. This guidance recognized that while ESAs deserve protection, landlords also need tools to identify fraudulent requests that had become increasingly common. The 2020 guidance struck a balance by allowing landlords to request reliable documentation while still protecting legitimate ESA users.

It's crucial to understand that the FHA doesn't just protect people with visible disabilities. Mental health conditions like anxiety, depression, PTSD, and panic disorders are all recognized disabilities under the law when they substantially limit one or more major life activities. An emotional support animal provides therapeutic benefit to someone with these conditions — not through specialized training like a service dog, but through companionship and emotional support. The law recognizes this benefit as legitimate and worthy of protection, which is why your standard pet policies don't apply to genuine ESA requests.

Key Legal Insight: The Fair Housing Act applies to approximately 98% of all housing in the United States. Even if you believe you qualify for an exemption, it's safer to treat all ESA requests as if they're covered by the FHA. The cost of being wrong — potential lawsuits, HUD complaints, and settlements — far outweighs the cost of making a reasonable accommodation.

Emotional Support Animals vs. Service Animals: Critical Distinctions

One of the most common points of confusion for landlords is the difference between emotional support animals and service animals. While both are protected in housing, they operate under different legal frameworks with different rules. Understanding these distinctions will help you respond appropriately to any assistance animal request you receive.

Service animals are covered primarily by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), which defines them very specifically as dogs (and in some cases miniature horses) that are individually trained to perform specific tasks for a person with a disability. A guide dog for someone who is blind, a seizure alert dog, or a psychiatric service dog trained to interrupt self-harming behaviors are all examples of service animals. The key element is task training — the animal must be trained to do something specific that mitigates the person's disability. For more details on how the ADA intersects with your landlord responsibilities, see our guide on ADA Compliance for Landlords.

Emotional support animals, by contrast, are not required to have any specific training. Their therapeutic value comes from their presence and the emotional support they provide to someone with a mental health disability. This means ESAs can be any species of animal — dogs, cats, rabbits, birds, or even more unusual animals in some cases. Because ESAs don't require training, the verification process focuses on whether the person has a disability-related need for the animal rather than what the animal can do.

Characteristic	Service Animal	Emotional Support Animal
Primary Law	Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)	Fair Housing Act (FHA)
Allowed Species	Dogs only (miniature horses in some cases)	Any animal (within reason)
Training Required	Yes — must be trained for specific tasks	No specific training required
Documentation	Cannot require documentation in most public settings	Can request documentation from healthcare provider
Where Protected	Housing, public places, employment, transportation	Housing only (not public places)
Pet Deposits	Cannot charge	Cannot charge
Breed/Size Restrictions	Generally cannot apply	Generally cannot apply (with exceptions)

For housing purposes, both service animals and ESAs must be accommodated, and you cannot charge pet deposits or pet rent for either. However, the verification process differs significantly. For service animals, under the ADA, you can only ask two questions: (1) Is this a service animal required because of a disability? and (2) What task has the animal been trained to perform? For emotional support animals, you can request documentation from a healthcare provider establishing the person's disability and need for the animal. This documentation requirement gives landlords more tools to verify ESA requests, which is why understanding the difference matters.

What Documentation Can You Request for ESAs?

The question of documentation is where many landlords either overstep their bounds or fail to adequately protect themselves. HUD's 2020 guidance established clear parameters for what landlords can and cannot request when verifying an ESA claim. Understanding these boundaries is essential for protecting your rights while respecting your tenant's privacy and legal protections.

When a tenant requests an ESA accommodation, you are entitled to request reliable documentation if the disability or disability-related need is not readily apparent. This documentation should come from a licensed healthcare provider who has a treatment relationship with the tenant. The documentation should establish three things: first, that the person has a disability as defined by the FHA (a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities); second, that there is a disability-related need for the emotional support animal; and third, that the animal will provide some benefit that alleviates one or more symptoms of the disability.

What Constitutes Reliable Documentation

Reliable documentation typically comes in the form of a letter from a licensed healthcare provider. This provider could be a physician, psychiatrist, psychologist, licensed clinical social worker, therapist, or other mental health professional licensed in the state where the provider practices. The key factor is that the provider should have an actual treatment relationship with the tenant — meaning they've conducted an in-person or telemedicine evaluation and have personal knowledge of the person's condition. A provider who has treated the tenant for an extended period carries more weight than someone who issued a letter after a single brief consultation.

The letter itself should be on the provider's letterhead and include their license information, contact details, and signature. It should state that the tenant is a patient or client of the provider, that the tenant has a disability (without necessarily specifying the diagnosis — you cannot demand to know the specific condition), and that the ESA is necessary to help the tenant use and enjoy their dwelling. The letter doesn't need to be elaborate, but it should be substantive enough to demonstrate a genuine treatment relationship and disability-related need.

Red Flags to Watch For: Be cautious of documentation from online ESA letter mills that offer letters for a fee without any real evaluation. HUD specifically noted that landlords can give less weight to documentation from providers who have no prior relationship with the tenant or who issue letters based solely on online questionnaires. If a letter appears to be from an out-of-state provider with no apparent connection to the tenant, or if the same provider's name appears on multiple letters from different tenants, these are warning signs.

What You Cannot Request

Just as important as knowing what you can request is understanding what you cannot demand. You may not require disclosure of the specific disability diagnosis. If a letter states that a tenant has a mental health condition that substantially limits major life activities, you cannot insist on knowing whether it's depression, anxiety, PTSD, or something else. You also cannot demand access to medical records, require the tenant to sign a release allowing you to contact their healthcare provider, or ask the tenant to demonstrate their disability in any way.

Additionally, you cannot require specific language in the documentation letter. While you can establish reasonable standards for what the letter should address, you cannot provide a form letter that the provider must sign or insist that the letter use particular phrases. Different providers have different writing styles, and as long as the substance of the letter establishes disability and need, that should be sufficient. At VerticalRent, our AI-powered lease generation system helps landlords create ESA accommodation policies that comply with these documentation requirements while protecting property interests.

The Verification Process: A Step-by-Step Approach

Having a systematic process for handling ESA requests protects you legally and ensures consistent, fair treatment of all applicants and tenants. When an ESA request comes in — whether during the application process or from an existing tenant — following these steps will help you respond appropriately.

Step 1: Acknowledge the Request Promptly

When you receive an ESA request, respond in writing within a reasonable timeframe — ideally within 3-5 business days. Acknowledge that you've received the request and explain your process for reviewing accommodation requests. Failing to respond or responding with an immediate denial can itself constitute a fair housing violation, regardless of whether the request is ultimately legitimate. Your initial response should be neutral and professional, simply confirming receipt and outlining next steps.

Step 2: Determine if Documentation is Needed

Ask yourself whether the tenant's disability or disability-related need is readily apparent or known to you. In most ESA cases, mental health conditions are not observable, so you will typically be entitled to request documentation. However, if you already know about a tenant's disability through previous interactions — for example, if they've previously discussed their anxiety or depression with you in the context of a maintenance request — this might affect what additional documentation you can reasonably request. When in doubt, a polite request for documentation is generally acceptable.

Step 3: Request Appropriate Documentation

Send a written request asking for documentation that establishes the tenant has a disability and has a disability-related need for an emotional support animal. Be specific about what the documentation should address, but don't be so prescriptive that you're dictating what the letter must say. Give the tenant a reasonable deadline — typically 10-14 days — to provide the documentation, and make clear that you're willing to discuss any questions they have about the process.

Step 4: Evaluate the Documentation

When documentation arrives, review it carefully. Does it come from a licensed healthcare provider? Does it establish a treatment relationship? Does it confirm that the tenant has a disability and needs an ESA to help with that disability? If the documentation seems incomplete, you can request additional information or clarification — but be careful not to make this process so burdensome that it constitutes an undue delay or denial of the accommodation. Using property management software like VerticalRent can help you track these requests, maintain proper documentation, and ensure timely responses that protect you from fair housing complaints.

Step 5: Make and Communicate Your Decision

Once you've evaluated the request, communicate your decision in writing. If approved, confirm that the ESA will be allowed, note any relevant policies that still apply (such as tenant responsibility for damage), and clarify that no pet deposit or pet rent will be charged. If denied, explain the specific legal basis for denial — and make sure you actually have a legitimate legal basis before denying any request. Document everything and keep copies of all correspondence.

When Can You Legally Deny an ESA Request?

While the protections for ESAs are strong, they're not absolute. There are specific, limited circumstances under which landlords can legally deny an ESA request. Understanding these exceptions — and their narrow scope — will help you make legally defensible decisions.

The most common legitimate ground for denial is inadequate or unreliable documentation. If a tenant provides a letter from an unlicensed individual, documentation that doesn't establish a disability-related need, or a letter from an online service with no real provider relationship, you have grounds to deny or request better documentation. However, you should always give the tenant an opportunity to provide additional documentation before issuing a final denial. A denial based on documentation should specify what was lacking and offer a path forward.

Direct Threat to Health or Safety

You may deny an ESA request if the specific animal in question poses a direct threat to the health or safety of others that cannot be reduced or eliminated by another reasonable accommodation. The key word here is "specific." You cannot deny based on breed assumptions or stereotypes. You must base your decision on objective evidence about that particular animal — for example, documented prior incidents of the animal attacking someone. Even then, you should consider whether there are alternatives, such as requiring the tenant to use a muzzle or leash, that might mitigate the threat.

Significant Property Damage

Similarly, if a specific animal would cause substantial physical damage to the property of others that cannot be reduced or eliminated by another accommodation, denial may be appropriate. Again, this must be based on objective evidence about the specific animal, not assumptions about breeds or species. A previous landlord's documentation of serious damage caused by the animal, or behavioral evidence from your own observation during a property visit, might support such a denial.

Undue Financial or Administrative Burden

In rare cases, a requested accommodation might pose an undue financial or administrative burden on the landlord. This exception is very narrow for ESA requests, as the accommodation of allowing an animal typically doesn't cost the landlord anything. However, if a tenant requests an unusual animal that would require significant property modifications or creates genuine operational challenges, this might apply. Before relying on this exception, consult with a fair housing attorney.

Potential Reason for Denial	Legally Valid?	Notes
No-pets policy in lease	No	ESAs are not pets; policy doesn't apply
Breed restriction (pit bulls, etc.)	Generally No	Cannot apply breed restrictions unless specific animal poses documented threat
Size or weight limits	Generally No	Cannot apply arbitrary size limits to ESAs
Multiple ESAs requested	Depends	May need to accommodate if supported by documentation
Documentation from online service only	Possibly	Can give less weight to such documentation; request better documentation first
Tenant doesn't "look disabled"	No	Mental health disabilities are not always visible
Animal has history of documented aggression	Possibly	Must be specific evidence about this animal, not breed assumptions
Building has other tenants with allergies	No	Must try to accommodate both needs; cannot automatically deny
Insurance policy excludes certain breeds	No	Insurance is landlord's responsibility; cannot shift burden to tenant

Financial Considerations: Deposits, Rent, and Damage

One of the most frustrating aspects of ESA rules for landlords is the financial implications. You cannot charge pet deposits, pet fees, or pet rent for emotional support animals. This differs significantly from how you handle regular pets, and it's an area where many landlords unknowingly violate the law. While it may seem unfair, understanding the rules and your options for protecting your property within those rules is essential.

The prohibition on pet deposits applies regardless of your standard practice with pets. If you normally charge a $500 pet deposit and $50 per month in pet rent, you cannot apply either charge to an ESA. The reasoning behind this rule is that requiring extra financial burdens for assistance animals would discourage people with disabilities from requesting accommodations they're entitled to by law. The FHA treats charging a pet deposit for an ESA the same as charging an extra deposit because someone uses a wheelchair — both are forms of disability discrimination.

Protecting Yourself Against Damage

While you cannot charge a pet deposit, you can hold tenants responsible for any damage their ESA causes to the property. This is where clear lease language becomes important. Your lease should specify that tenants are responsible for any damage caused by any occupant of the unit, including assistance animals, beyond normal wear and tear. When the tenant moves out, you can deduct the cost of repairing ESA-caused damage from the general security deposit just as you would for any other tenant-caused damage. If you're still using a traditional pet addendum rental property approach, you'll need to understand how it differs from your ESA accommodation policy.

Documentation is crucial for protecting yourself. Conduct a thorough move-in inspection, documenting the condition of the property with photos and detailed notes. Do the same at move-out. This creates a clear record of any damage that occurred during the tenancy. If there's ESA-related damage, this documentation supports your deduction from the security deposit. Some landlords also conduct periodic inspections during the tenancy — if permitted by your lease and state law — which can help you identify and address issues before they become major problems.

VerticalRent's digital inspection tools make this process seamless, allowing you to create timestamped photo documentation of property condition at move-in, during the tenancy, and at move-out. This digital record can be invaluable if you ever need to justify damage deductions to a former tenant or in court.

Financial Protection Tip: Consider requiring renters insurance for all tenants, with coverage for pet liability. While you can't require specific ESA-related insurance, a general renters insurance requirement applied to all tenants is typically permissible. Many policies include liability coverage that would protect against damage or injuries caused by animals in the unit.

State-Specific ESA Laws: Variations You Need to Know

While the Fair Housing Act sets the federal baseline for ESA protections, many states have enacted their own laws that affect how landlords handle emotional support animals. Some states provide additional protections for tenants, while others have passed laws specifically targeting fraudulent ESA documentation. Knowing the laws in your state is essential for compliance.

Several states have enacted laws criminalizing fraudulent ESA representation. These laws typically make it illegal for a person to misrepresent themselves as needing an assistance animal when they don't have a legitimate disability-related need. They may also target healthcare providers who issue ESA letters without a legitimate provider-patient relationship. While these laws don't change your obligations as a landlord — you still must accommodate legitimate ESAs — they provide some deterrent against fake requests and may give you additional recourse if you discover fraud after the fact.

States with ESA Fraud Laws

California, Florida, Texas, Colorado, and numerous other states have enacted some form of ESA fraud legislation. The specifics vary significantly. California's law, for example, requires healthcare providers to have an established client relationship of at least 30 days before issuing an ESA letter and mandates specific disclosures in any ESA documentation. Florida's law makes it a misdemeanor to falsely represent that a person has a need for an emotional support animal. Understanding the specific requirements in your state helps you evaluate documentation and potentially identify fraudulent requests.

State	ESA Fraud Law	Key Provisions
California	Yes	30-day provider relationship required; specific disclosure requirements
Florida	Yes	Misdemeanor for fraudulent ESA representation; landlord liability protections
Texas	Yes	Criminal penalties for misrepresentation; some provider requirements
Colorado	Yes	Misdemeanor for fraudulent representation; educational requirements
Arizona	Yes	Criminal penalties; provider relationship requirements
Nevada	Yes	Misdemeanor penalties; documentation standards
New York	No specific law	Follows federal FHA standards; strong tenant protections
Illinois	Limited	Some provisions in assistance animal laws; generally follows FHA

Some states also have laws that expand protections beyond federal requirements. New York, for example, has particularly strong tenant protections that may limit landlord's ability to question or deny ESA requests. Other states may have specific timelines for responding to accommodation requests or additional procedural requirements. Always check your state and local laws — and consider consulting with a local attorney who specializes in landlord-tenant law — to ensure you're compliant with all applicable requirements.

Managing Multiple ESA Requests and Unusual Animals

As ESA requests have become more common, landlords increasingly face complex situations that test the limits of accommodation requirements. Multiple ESA requests from a single tenant or requests involving unusual animals require careful navigation to balance accommodation obligations with legitimate property management concerns.

A tenant may legitimately need more than one emotional support animal. If their healthcare provider documents that multiple animals are necessary to address their disability, you generally need to accommodate this request unless doing so would pose an undue burden or fundamentally alter the nature of your housing operation. However, you can apply reasonable scrutiny to such requests. If a tenant suddenly claims to need five ESAs after living in the unit for two years with none, it's reasonable to request robust documentation explaining the clinical basis for multiple animals.

Evaluating Unusual Animal Requests

The FHA doesn't limit ESAs to dogs and cats. Rabbits, guinea pigs, birds, and other animals can serve as emotional support animals. However, as animals become more unusual, your grounds for questioning or denying the request may strengthen. HUD guidance suggests that unique animals may warrant additional scrutiny regarding whether there's a genuine disability-related therapeutic need for that specific type of animal, whether the animal is typically kept in households, and whether the animal's presence might cause issues with other tenants or property damage.

For example, a tenant requesting an emotional support snake or tarantula might face more questions than one requesting a cat. You could reasonably ask for documentation explaining why this particular type of animal provides necessary therapeutic benefit. If the documentation doesn't establish a clear connection between the unusual animal and the disability-related need, you may have grounds for requesting an alternative accommodation — such as a more conventional ESA that would serve the same purpose.

That said, approach unusual animal requests carefully. A miniature pig or emotional support rabbit might seem unusual to you but could be entirely legitimate. Your discomfort or unfamiliarity with a species isn't a legal basis for denial. Focus on objective factors: Does the documentation support the request? Would the animal cause genuine problems for the property or other tenants? Is there a more reasonable alternative that would meet the tenant's needs? VerticalRent's AI risk scoring can help you evaluate these situations by providing data-driven insights while ensuring your decision-making process remains fair housing compliant.

Insurance and Liability Considerations

One of the most common concerns landlords raise about ESAs involves insurance. Many insurance policies have breed restrictions or animal exclusions, and landlords worry about liability if an ESA causes injury or damage. Understanding the interplay between fair housing requirements and insurance considerations is crucial for protecting yourself legally and financially.

First, the clear rule: you cannot deny an ESA request because of insurance policy restrictions. If your landlord insurance policy excludes certain breeds, and a tenant requests an ESA of that breed, you cannot simply deny the request and cite your insurance policy. The fair housing obligation trumps insurance considerations. This may require you to work with your insurance company to obtain coverage or find an alternative insurer. Some insurers are more accommodating of assistance animals than others, and it's worth shopping around if your current insurer is inflexible.

Liability for ESA Behavior

Landlords often ask whether they can be held liable if a tenant's ESA injures someone. Generally, landlords are not liable for injuries caused by a tenant's animal unless the landlord knew the animal was dangerous and failed to take action, or in some states, unless the landlord had direct control over the animal. Simply allowing an ESA as a reasonable accommodation doesn't create liability. However, if you become aware that an ESA is dangerous — for example, if it attacks a neighbor or shows aggressive behavior — you have an obligation to address the situation.

If an ESA becomes dangerous, you're not required to continue accommodating it. You can require the tenant to remove a specific animal that has demonstrated it poses a direct threat, while still accommodating their need for an ESA by allowing a different, non-dangerous animal. Document any incidents involving the ESA carefully, including dates, witnesses, and any injuries or damage. This documentation protects you if you need to take action and the tenant claims discrimination.

To minimize risk, ensure your landlord insurance adequately covers animal-related incidents. Review your policy carefully and discuss with your agent how emotional support animals are treated. Some policies automatically cover assistance animals regardless of breed restrictions that apply to pets. Others may require a rider or policy endorsement. Investing in proper coverage is part of the cost of being a landlord in an era where ESAs are common and legally protected.

Creating ESA-Friendly Policies and Procedures

The best defense against ESA-related problems is a proactive approach. Developing clear policies and procedures before you receive a request positions you to respond consistently, fairly, and legally. This section provides a framework for creating ESA policies that protect both your interests and your tenants' rights.

Start by reviewing your lease and rental applications. Remove any language that could be interpreted as discouraging assistance animal requests. Your application and lease can mention that you have a pet policy and require pet deposits for pets, but should include clear language stating that assistance animals, including ESAs, are not considered pets and are accommodated in accordance with fair housing laws. This signals to applicants that you understand your legal obligations and are prepared to accommodate legitimate requests.

Develop a Standardized Request Process

Create a simple, clear process for tenants to request ESA accommodations. This could include a dedicated email address, an online form, or a specific person to contact. Whatever method you choose, make it accessible and straightforward. The request process should explain what documentation is needed, provide a reasonable timeframe for submission and response, and offer a way for the tenant to ask questions or discuss concerns. Having a standardized process ensures you treat all requests consistently, which is important for demonstrating non-discriminatory intent if a complaint ever arises.

Consider creating template letters for your responses — one acknowledging receipt of the request, one requesting documentation, one approving the request, and one for situations where denial might be appropriate. These templates ensure you use appropriate language and don't inadvertently say something that could be construed as discriminatory. Have the templates reviewed by a fair housing attorney to ensure they're compliant with federal and state law.

Training and Staff Awareness

If you have property managers, leasing agents, or other staff who interact with tenants, ensure they understand ESA rules. A single discriminatory comment from an employee can create fair housing liability. Train your team on the difference between pets and ESAs, the proper way to respond to requests, what they can and cannot ask or say, and when to escalate complex situations to you or to legal counsel. Periodic refresher training helps ensure everyone stays current as laws and guidance evolve.

VerticalRent's platform includes resources and tools to help you maintain fair housing compliance, including documentation management features that help you track ESA requests, store supporting documentation, and maintain the records you need if questions ever arise about your handling of assistance animal accommodations.

Handling ESA Issues During Tenancy

Approving an ESA request is just the beginning of the landlord-tenant relationship around the animal. Issues can arise during the tenancy that require careful handling. Understanding how to address these situations while respecting fair housing requirements helps you manage your property effectively without creating legal exposure.

Noise complaints are among the most common ESA-related issues. If an emotional support dog barks excessively and disturbs other tenants, you have the right to address this just as you would any other lease violation involving noise. ESA status doesn't exempt a tenant from noise provisions in the lease. You can document the complaints, notify the tenant, and pursue your normal enforcement process — potentially including eviction if the problem persists and constitutes a material lease violation. The key is treating the noise issue as a noise issue, not as an ESA issue.

Property Damage During Tenancy

If an ESA causes damage to common areas or to the tenant's unit beyond normal wear and tear, you can hold the tenant responsible. For damage to common areas, you can require immediate repair or cleaning and charge the tenant for associated costs. For damage within the unit, you may address it during the tenancy if it affects habitability or property value, or handle it during move-out through security deposit deductions. Document all damage carefully with photos and written