Reasonable Accommodations

Do you know what a place of public accommodation is? Did you know that places of public accommodation must be accessible to persons with disabilities? To learn more, please view our Public Accommodations Guide, which covers state and federal protections for persons with disabilities in places of public accommodation.

Under the Fair Housing Act, housing providers are required to allow changes to the structure of their rental, when such a change is reasonable and is necessary to allow a person with a disability the full use and enjoyment of the premises. Examples of reasonable modifications include ramps, grab bars, push door handles, or lowering the entry threshold of a unit. Reasonable modification costs are typically paid by the tenant, but public housing agencies and federally-assisted housing providers are required to pay for reasonable modifications.

Introduction The Federal Fair Housing Act (“Act”) (42 U.S.C. §§ 3601-19) prohibits discrimination inhousing on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, familial status, and disability (as well as sexual orientation/gender identity if the housing provider or program receives federal funding. A housing provider’s refusal to make a reasonable accommodation that is necessary to afford a person with a disability the equal opportunity to use and enjoy a dwelling constitutes disability discrimination and is a violation of the Act.

Introduction

What is a Reasonable Accommodation?

A summary on a housing provider’s obligation to make reasonable accommodations and modifications which may be necessary to afford a person with a disability the equal opportunity to use and enjoy a dwelling.

Below you will find reasonable accommodation and modification requests that you can fill in via Microsoft Word and then print or print and handwrite to provide to your landlord. Please use the form(s) that fits your situation. You will also find Proof of Need Letters to give to your doctor to fill out if your landlord requests a proof of need letter.

The Department of Justice (“DOJ”) and the Department of Housing and Urban Development (“HUD”) are jointly responsible for enforcing the federal Fair Housing Act (the “Act”), which prohibits discrimination in housing on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, familial status, and disability.