Emotional support animals are some of the best companions that you can have. While this may be the case, you need to stay on top of your paperwork.

Not only do you need an emotional support animal (ESA) letter, but you also need to make sure it’s current and accurate. If it’s not, you can run into problems with your landlord, and it’s even possible to end up evicted.

Fortunately, this guide has you covered, especially if you’re worried about ESA letters expiring. So, do ESA letters expire? Read on to have all of your questions answered.

What Is an Emotional Support Animal Letter?

An emotional support animal letter is a letter that legitimizes your support animal. In other words, if you have a pet who’s providing you with emotional support, you need this letter to ensure that they have the legal protections that are outlined by the Fair Housing Act (FHA).

Failing to have this letter will result in a loss of protection for your companion, and this means that landlords can have you evicted or charge pet fees.

Emotional support animal letters have a few requirements that must be met if they’re going to be legitimate. First and foremost, the letter needs to be signed by a licensed mental health professional (LMHP).

Aside from being signed, the letter needs to have their license information. The LMHP must be licensed in your state, and the letter needs to describe your mental health condition and how an ESA helps.

Once an ESA letter meets all of these requirements, you can show it to landlords.

How to Get an Emotional Support Animal Letter

To get an emotional support animal letter, you have a few options. First and foremost, you can work with a licensed mental health professional (LMHP). This can be your therapist or someone you connect with via telehealth.

If you go with a therapist, make sure you leverage insurance to save on costs. Other than that, all you need to do is request a letter and have them write it for you.

If you don’t have insurance or a therapist you trust, don’t panic, because online options are available. Online resources, like Emotional Support Animal, will help you get an ESA letter by connecting you with a LMHP via telehealth. From there, they’ll learn more about your situation and determine if you qualify for an ESA.

Do ESA Letters Expire?

Yes, ESA letters expire. While the rules vary slightly based on your state, landlords can request a letter for your support animal. In most cases, the letter has to be issued within the last 12 months; otherwise, landlords can prevent you from living in their housing units or take other actions against you.

For this reason, you need to renew your ESA letter every single year. This ensures that you don’t have to worry about being called out because your ESA letter is on the older side.

Thankfully, you can renew your ESA letter with the same LMHP who granted you the letter. This even applies to ESA websites, and some of them offer 24-hour turnarounds, so there’s no need to panic.

How to Renew an ESA Letter

To renew an ESA letter, you don’t have to work too hard. As long as you already have an ESA letter with a licensed mental health professional (LMHP), you can renew your ESA letter with them. You can simply request an updated letter, and they’ll be able to send it to you.

That said, some professionals may request another meeting with you, especially if you have a new pet. Also, you may need to schedule another telehealth phone call if you went that route. Thankfully, most options are flexible, and if you have an ESA letter already, you shouldn’t have any issues getting another one.

Do ESA Letters Expire? Our Final Thoughts

So, do ESA letters expire? Yes, ESA letters expire. You need to renew your ESA letter every single year. If you don’t, landlords can evict you or charge you pet fees. For these reasons, we always recommend being proactive. Keep an eye on the date that your ESA letter was signed, and prepare to renew your ESA letter before it’s been 12 months.

If you’re worried about forgetting, we recommend working with organizations like Emotional Support Animal for the best outcomes. The online platform will help you connect with ESA professionals, remind you when it’s time to renew your letter, and prevent you from having any problems.