What to do if my roommate refused to allow me an emotional support animal?
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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 13 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.
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