According to the FHA, "Emotional Support Animals (ESAs) have no legal status outside of qualified/approved FHAct housing. They are not considered an assistance animal or service animal under ADA and should only be going with their owners to pet-friendly businesses." A new Department of Transportation rule, airlines are no longer required to recognize emotional support animals as service animals. Instead, ESAs can be treated as pets, and subject to whatever the airline’s pet policies may be.

As hosts and owners of Short Term Rental properties listed on Airbnb, we are more than willing and happy to follow ADA guidelines for Service Animals (SA's). We find these animals to be well behaved, with the owners at all times, well trained and of course, essential to the guests well being.   However, more and more guests are claiming their pets are ESA's.  They tell us their pet is 'registered' - a certificate anyone can buy online for any animal - a bird, a snake, a chicken, dog, cat, mouse. Often they are bringing multiple pets at a time, claiming they are all ESA's.  What ever animal they feel they want to bring into our home, they can if they claim it is an ESA. Their animals run loose around our homes, they are frequently left alone, climb on the furnishings, sometimes they cause damage.  It is always extra cleaning that we are not permitted to charge for.  It is most commonly used as an excuse to get around no-pet policies, to bring a type of pet not permitted in the home and/or not to pay a pet fee.    We have found that legitimate Service Animal owners do not try to skirt the rules and most often try to find a pet friendly home before contacting an non-pet friendly home.  

This is unfair to hosts and owners and unfair to legitimate Service Animal owners who are unfairly being grouped in with those who are trying to get around our house rules or those trying to scam their way into a property that does not permit pets.  The airlines are no longer accepting ESA's, many hotels and restaurants are no longer accepting ESA's. 

There are some jurisdictions that require pet friendly homes to have their carpets and furnishings professionally shampooed between each guest.  This is a burden on the homeowners who are not pet friendly and quite costly, and often the homes will not be ready in time for the next guest.  There are times when the "ESA" has left the home full of hair, dander or smell that it is nearly impossible to have the home ready for the next guest.  There are thousands of Pet Friendly properties listed on Airbnb who are prepared properly for cleaning up after animals.. There is no reason to permit any animals, with the exception of Service Animals,  into non-pet friendly homes. 

As owners and hosts, we want to provide a clean, fresh home for our guests who are requesting an non pet friendly home, whether it is due to their own or their child's allergies or they just prefer a home with no pet hair or dander. Airbnb's own rating system is working against us when we cannot have the home as clean as necessary or ready on time due to these pets. 

We are asking that you please drop your requirement that hosts and owners be forced to host Emotional Support Animals.