I want to be very clear: this is my personal experience and opinion. But I’m writing it plainly because people’s housing is at stake, and sugarcoating services like this helps no one.If you’re considering CertaPet for an ESA letter in 2026, I strongly suggest slowing down and reading this first.
The Illusion of Legitimacy
CertaPet is polished. That’s part of the problem.
• Professional website • Heavy emphasis on “legal compliance” • Language carefully designed to sound clinical and official
Everything about the presentation is meant to lower your guard. It looks legitimate enough to trust — and that appearance is doing a lot of the work.
The “Evaluation” Felt Like a Formality
Calling the assessment a mental health evaluation feels generous.
• No meaningful intake • No real exploration of symptoms or history • No clinical depth or judgment
At no point did it feel like someone was assessing whether an ESA was genuinely appropriate. It felt like a transaction, not care.
The ESA Letter Was a Liability, Not a Safeguard
The letter itself was immediately concerning.
• Generic, template-style language • Minimal personalization • Easily recognizable as an online ESA service product
In 2026, landlords are not naïve. Many actively flag letters like this. This document looked like exactly what housing providers are trained to distrust.
If your goal is housing security, this letter does the opposite.
Customer Support Drops Off a Cliff After Payment
Before payment: responsive, reassuring, helpful. After payment: slow, vague, and evasive.
• Questions about landlord verification went unanswered • No clear explanation of what happens if the letter is challenged • No proactive guidance whatsoever
Once the document is delivered, you are effectively on your own.
No Backup When It Actually Matters
This is the most serious issue.
• No real advocacy if a landlord rejects the letter • No structured revision tied to landlord concerns • No provider involvement if documentation is questioned
If your ESA letter fails, CertaPet does not meaningfully stand behind it. The risk is entirely yours.
The Review Landscape Is Misleading
Positive feedback exists but it’s shallow.
• Short, generic praise • Very few detailed experiences • Almost no discussion of failed or rejected letters
You have to dig to find critical accounts, and that lack of transparency should concern anyone making a housing-related decision.
Bottom Line
In my opinion, CertaPet is optimized for speed and volume, not clinical credibility.
• It may work if you just want a piece of paper • It is a poor choice if housing stability matters • It is especially risky in today’s stricter rental environment
ESA letters are no longer rubber-stamped.
• Landlords verify providers • Template letters are easily flagged • Weak documentation can lead to denial, delays, or disputes
Final Advice
If you genuinely need an ESA letter, the safest route is still the old-fashioned one: a licensed mental health professional who knows your history and can defend their evaluation if challenged.
I wouldn’t use CertaPet again and I’m sharing this because I wish someone had been this direct before I did.
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