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How Much Money an ESA Letter Saves You
An ESA letter can save renters $300 to $2,000 or more a year in housing cost,by legally exempting them from pet fees.
Pet deposits, monthly pet rent, and one-time fees add up fast in most rental buildings.When a landlord agrees to waive them, an ESA letter from RealESALetter.com replaces a pet deposit and monthly pet rent with one letter fee instead.
Here's where the savings come from, what changed under HUD in 2026, and how to calculate your own numbers.
Key Takeaways
Savings are real, but conditional: An ESA letter can save $300 to $2,000+ a year in pet fees. This only applies if your landlord chooses to waive them.
HUD's rule changed in 2026: HUD rescinded its ESA fee-waiver guidance on May 22, 2026. Fee waivers are no longer a federal requirement.
The letter itself costs little: A legitimate ESA letter typically costs $99 to $200. It often pays for itself within one to two months of waived fees.
Airlines no longer waive fees: Airlines can charge standard pet fees for ESAs since 2020. Only psychiatric service dogs fly fee-free.
Legitimacy matters most: A valid letter needs a licensed professional's signature and license number. Fake registrations get rejected by landlords.
Understanding an ESA Letter and How It Saves You Money
An ESA letter is a signed recommendation from a licensed mental health professional stating that an animal is a medical necessity, not a pet. That reclassification is what saves you money, pets are the category landlords charge deposits, rent, and fees for.
When a landlord accommodates your housing request the ESA letter savings typically come from three places:
- Skipping the one-time pet deposit landlords usually charge upfront.
- Avoiding monthly pet rent added on top of your regular rent.
- Bypassing breed, size, or weight-based fees tied to your building's pet policy.
ESA Letter vs. Pet Fees: The Real Cost Comparison and Saving
If a landlord waives pet-related charges for a valid ESA, you can avoid a deposit, monthly rent, and extra fees that often add up to $500–$2,000+ a year.
Expense Category | Typical Cost | Potential Savings (Landlord-Dependent) |
Pet deposit | $200–$500 | Up to $500 if waived |
Monthly pet rent | $25–$100/month | $300–$1,200/year if waived |
One-time pet fee | $100–$350 | Up to $350 if waived |
Application/admin fee | $25–$50 | Up to $50 if waived |
"No-pet" policy penalty | Risk of denial or eviction | Avoided if landlord accommodates |
Pet deposits work the same way, for the full legal detail, see our guide to pet deposit rules for ESAs.
How HUD's 2026 Update Changes What You Can Save From an ESA Letter
On May 22, 2026, HUD rescinded its ESA fee-waiver guidance, so those savings are no longer a guaranteed federal right and now depend on your landlord's policy and case to case analysis.
The Old HUD Guidance (2013–2026)
For nearly 20 years, HUD's FHEO Notices 2013-01 and 2020-01 told landlords that emotional support animals were not pets and that pet fees could not be charged for them. Housing providers and courts widely treated this as a categorical rule: a valid ESA letter meant an automatic fee waiver, no exceptions.
What Changed on May 22, 2026
HUD's Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity, permanently rescinded both notices. Federal enforcement now centers on animals individually trained to perform disability-related tasks, not standard ESAs. In practice, this means fee waivers for untrained ESAs are no longer treated as a federal requirement, whether you save money now depends on your landlord's policy, and in some cases, state law.
For the full breakdown, see our guide to HUD's 2026 ESA policy changes.
Every RealESALetter.com ESA letter includes the clinician's state license number, issue date, and direct contact information. Landlords can verify it independently, regardless of how HUD's 2026 policy affects federal enforcement.
ESA Letter Cost and Where It Saves You Money
A legitimate ESA letter typically costs $99 to $200, a small one-time cost set against what it can potentially offset.
See where the ESA letter cost saves you money:
- Housing and rental: waived pet deposits, monthly pet rent, and one-time fees in apartments and rental homes, if your landlord accommodates your letter.
- College and university housing: the same fee categories can apply in dorms and campus apartments, since on-campus housing is generally subject to the same fair housing rules, at the university's discretion.
- Breed and weight restrictions: many apartments charge premium monthly fees or push tenants into pricier units over breed or weight limits. A valid ESA letter can help you get around these restrictions if your landlord agrees to accommodate it, opening up cheaper housing options.
For a full breakdown of pricing by provider type, see our complete ESA cost guide.
Real-Life ESA Savings Examples
Here's what ESA savings can look like in three common rental scenarios, if a landlord agrees to waive pet fees.
Example 1: Standard Apartment With Moderate Pet Rent
- Pet deposit: $250
- One-time pet fee: $150
- Monthly pet rent: $40
- ESA letter cost: $150
Total Without ESA: Total With ESA: ➡ Savings: $730 in one year |
Example 2: Mid-Tier Apartment With High Pet Fees
- Pet deposit: $350
- Monthly pet rent: $60
- ESA letter cost: $120
Total Without ESA: Total With ESA: ➡ Savings: $950 in one year |
Example 3: Luxury Apartment With Premium Pet Charges
- Pet deposit: $500
- Non-refundable pet fee: $200
- Monthly pet rent: $100
- ESA letter cost: $150
Total Without ESA: Total With ESA: ➡ Savings: $1,750 in one year |
Example 4: Long-Term Tenant (3 Years)
Let’s assume:
- Pet deposit: $300
- Pet rent: $50 per month
- ESA letter: $150 yearly
Total Without ESA: Total With ESA: Yearly ESA letters = $150 × 3 = $450 ➡ Long-Term Savings: $2,100 – $450 = $1,650 saved |
This shows how powerful ESA savings become over time.
How to Calculate Your ESA Letter Savings
Use this formula to estimate your own savings if your landlord waives pet fees:
Pet Deposit + Pet Fee + (Monthly Pet Rent × 12) − (ESA Letter Cost + Renewal Cost) = Your Savings
Example: $300 + $200 + ($60 × 12) − $150 = $1,070 saved in one year, if waived.
Where You Don't Save Money Anymore with ESA Letter
Two places an ESA letter no longer saves you money: commercial flights and property damage.
- Commercial airlines: Since 2020, the U.S. Department of Transportation no longer requires airlines to treat ESAs as service animals, so airlines can charge standard pet fees, only psychiatric service dogs fly fee-free.
- Property damage: An ESA letter isn't insurance. Landlords can still bill you for actual damage your animal causes, deposit waiver or not.
How to Actually Get These ESA Letter Savings
Getting real savings from an ESA letter comes down to five things.
- Get a legitimate letter. ESA letter from a licensed mental health professional, with a valid license number, licensed in your state, on official letterhead, signed and dated. Free or $20–$40 "registration" certificates aren't valid documentation, and landlords can reject them.
- Know where you actually stand legally. Federal protection now centers on trained assistance animals, so for a standard ESA, fee waivers depend on your landlord's policy and, in some cases, state law, not an automatic right.
- Keep communication clear with your landlord. Submit your letter formally and respond quickly if they ask to verify it.
- Make sure your animal is well-behaved. ESAs don't need special training, but avoiding aggression, damage, or repeated disturbances prevents disputes and repair costs.
- Renew your letter if required. Many landlords ask for a letter dated within the past 12 months, and renewing ESA letter keeps your documentation, and any savings tied to it, uninterrupted.
Conclusion
An ESA letter won't guarantee fee waivers the way it once did, but it can still save you hundreds to thousands of dollars a year if your landlord participates. The letter itself typically costs far less than a single month of pet rent, so even a partial waiver usually pays for itself quickly.
If you're ready to find out where you stand, start your ESA evaluation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are ESA letters worth the cost?
Often, yes. If your landlord waives pet fees, even the more expensive end of ESA letters usually pays for itself within the first month or two of skipped pet rent and fees.
Do I have to pay pet fees if I have an ESA letter?
Not automatically. Since HUD rescinded its ESA guidance in May 2026, fee waivers are no longer a federal requirement, it depends on your landlord's own policy.
How much money can an ESA letter actually save me?
Most renters who get a waiver save $300 to $2,000+ a year, depending on their landlord's deposit and pet rent.
Do landlords still charge for damages caused by an ESA?
Yes. An ESA letter isn't insurance, landlords can still bill for actual property damage.
Does an ESA letter remove pet rent every month?
Not automatically, it depends on your landlord's policy. If your landlord waives pet rent for your ESA, that alone can save you $25 to $100+ each month.
How much do ESA letters cost?
A legitimate ESA letter usually costs $99 to $200, depending on the provider.
Dr. Avery Langston is a health and wellness writer with 12+ years of experience covering ESA rights, housing laws, and mental health. As a senior contributor for RealESALetter.com, she helps readers understand ESA regulations and legal protections.
Dr. Stephanie White is a doctorally-prepared licensed clinical social worker and trauma specialist with over 24 years of experience in behavioral health, trauma intervention, and forensic mental health services. She holds active LCSW licenses across nine states and conducts ESA evaluations grounded in comprehensive biopsychosocial assessment and DSM-5 diagnostics.
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