What to do if my roommate refused to allow me an emotional support animal?
Get Legal Help Today
Compare Quotes From Top Companies and Save
Secured with SHA-256 Encryption
What to do if my roommate refused to allow me an emotional support animal?
I was recently diagnosed with general anxiety disorder and prescribed an emotional support animal. My landlord has approved of it, but my roommate is telling me she doesn’t want a dog and wants me to move if I decide to keep him. What can I do?
Asked on August 12, 2011 Wyoming
Answers:
SJZ, Member, New York Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 12 years ago | Contributor
While it would be nice to accomodate a roommate's wishes, you probably don't have to. Unless your lease or some other written agreement with your roommate gives her the right to veto you having a dog, she has no say in the matter; your roommate has no power over what you do beyond any rights given by lease or contract (just as, for that matter, you have no power over what she does, other than as given by lease or contract). You therefore do not have to move and, furthermore, if you did move out before the end of the lease, you'd still be responsible for the rent anyway, unless the landlord elected to let you leave--your roommmate is not the one who decides when and whether you can break the lease.
IMPORTANT NOTICE: The Answer(s) provided above are for general information only. The attorney providing the answer was not serving as the attorney for the person submitting the question or in any attorney-client relationship with such person. Laws may vary from state to state, and sometimes change. Tiny variations in the facts, or a fact not set forth in a question, often can change a legal outcome or an attorney's conclusion. Although AttorneyPages.com has verified the attorney was admitted to practice law in at least one jurisdiction, he or she may not be authorized to practice law in the jurisdiction referred to in the question, nor is he or she necessarily experienced in the area of the law involved. Unlike the information in the Answer(s) above, upon which you should NOT rely, for personal advice you can rely upon we suggest you retain an attorney to represent you.