I have an applicant who seems to be pretty good except for ESA animals (2 cats).

This guy is a case worker and is married. They are selling there home (verified) because of the market and want to make the profit.

They claim to have rented prior to them buying this home 4 years ago and that the LL that they rented from does not have any vacancies (is what the previous LL is telling them).

He says in the prescreen form "We have two emotional support animals, both cats."

I am calling BS on the ESA. I also think that because this guy is a social worker that he will be capable of providing the proper paperwork under false pretenses.

I know that I am basically exempt from the ESA rules but am unsure if I want to test the waters.

I am also wondering if the previous LL just doesn't want to rent to him anymore?

I also don't believe that they would be long term renters.

Otherwise, they seem fine from just the prescreen without further information.

I was wondering what the opinion of the board would be?

Thank you for your time.

6X6,

OK.

You could go ahead and do the credit and background check -- it sounds like you haven't done that yet. There's a good chance something will come up that makes this an easy "no".

The fact that they have TWO of these ESAs is kind of dubious to me. As WMH implied they are most likely lying about the need for these animals, even if they have the minimal "proof" that the law requires. The fact that this person is a caseworker also indicates that they know the system and how to work it.

Unless you are hard up to find someone decent, and they turn out to have a stellar background when you check them out, I would find a way to get out of this.

It is advertised to except both dogs and cats.

I am just ignoring there request for a showing for now.

TWO ESAs? What is up with that ......

is one ESA for your tenant and the second one is for the other cat?

Thank you Coplin. I still qualify for the exemption then.

I guess I am confused. You stated that you accept dogs and cats so why is an ESA an issue? I could understand if you didn't want animals, but if not an issue, why concentrate on that part.

If you have or get the prior landlord contact info, call them and just ask if they have anything for rent in the number of bedrooms that your place is or close to it. For example if your apartment is a 3 bedroom, ask if they have any 2 or 3 bedrooms for rent or if they have any 3 or 4 bedroom units for rent. If they answer no, your applicants could be telling the truth on that. If they answer yes, the former tenants MAY have left on bad terms. It just depends on if the vacancy happened before or after they called to determine if they had a vacancy before or after the tenants called them or if the landlord just does not want them.

A lot depends on how easy or hard it is, for you to rent in your area. It is not easy here to find even average tenant applicants so the market helps make your decisions for you, in a way.

Thank you Cat,

It is more of a matter of them lying about it to get by without having to pay an animal registration fee or an animal rent. It is not the animal that is the problem but the lie of 2 ESA cats and this is a case worker.

Thank you Sisco.