Types of Reasonable Accommodations and Modifications

Tenants with disabilities can ask for reasonable accommodations and modifications.

  • Reasonable accommodations: A change or exception to a housing provider’s rule, policy, regulation, practice, program, or service that will help the person with a disability have equal access and use the unit and common areas.
  • Reasonable modifications: A structural change to the unit or common area so that the person can access and use the premises.
Type of Accommodation or Modification Examples of Solutions 
Smoke-Free and Allergy/Chemical-Free Environment

A landlord might have to help a tenant with severe asthma, allergies, chemical sensitivities, or other respiratory conditions by: 

  • Stopping the use of certain chemicals and smoking in shared areas. 
  • Offering a vacant unit away from the chemicals or smoke.
  • Making the whole building or parts of it smoke-free. 
  • Fixing walls, windows, and doors and changing carpets to reduce or get rid of secondhand smoke. 
  • Changing heating or ventilation systems to stop smoke from spreading.
Live-In Aide

A landlord may need to accommodate a tenant who needs a live-in aide. The live-in aide helps a person with a disability. They can be a profession or a family member.

  • If there's a limit to how many people can live in the unit, the landlord may need to make exceptions to those rules. 
  • If there's a limit to who may visit, the landlord may have to make exceptions to those rules to allow access to the building.
Criminal History

If the applicant's criminal history is connected to their disability, the landlord may need to adjust their rules.

Credit History

If the applicant's low credit is connected to their disability, the landlord may need to adjust their rules.

  • The applicant can show if there's a direct connection between the poor credit and disability. It helps if they are otherwise qualified to rent (e.g. has sufficient income to pay the rent).
  • Example: Tenant has poor credit because he was hospitalized for an extended period due to his disability. He’s rejected due to his credit score even though he has enough income and a payment plan for the debt. He can ask for an accommodation because his poor credit is directly related to his disability. 
Hoarding

A landlord might have to help a tenant who hoards because of a disability by:

  • Giving extra time to clean up the unit.
  • Helping them remove the clutter.
Communication

A landlord might have to help a tenant who has a disability that impairs their ability to communicate by:

  • Using a different way to communicate than usual like email.
  • Providing printed material in an alternative format, such as Braille or large print.
  • Arranging for sign language interpretation or captioning.
  • Using a telephone or video relay system for an individual who is Deaf or has a speech disability.
Assistance Animals

A landlord may need to accommodate a tenant who needs an assistance animal. The animal needs to perform tasks or provide emotional support for their disability. The assistance animal may be:

  • An exception to size and weight limitations. 
  • Not restricted by breeds (like Pitbulls) because of stereotypes. 
  • Not subject to “no-pet” policies or pet rules, like pet fees, special security deposits, or related pet costs. 
Parking

Some residents may need a formal accessible parking space or a reserved parking space close to an entrance. The landlord can accommodate by:

  • Asking another tenant to voluntarily exchange their space. 
  • Reserving the space specifically for the resident with a disability once the current lease expires. 
  • If spaces can’t be exchanged, creating new space from unused space in the parking lot, like where the garbage bins or maintenance equipment are.
Early Lease Termination or Transfer

Residents with disabilities who reside in a unit that is not accessible may request as an accommodation to: 

  1. Leave a unit early; 
  2. Transfer to a unit within the same building or development; or 
  3. Transfer to a unit in another building managed by the same landlord. 

Landlords may need to waive any associated fees unless the waiver creates an undue burden.

Extra Time to Move Someone with a disability might need extra time to find a new place to live because it's hard to find homes that are affordable and accessible.

The above article provides information about legal issues but is not the same as legal advice. Legal advice is when a lawyer applies the law to your specific situation. The information in this article does not replace the advice or representation of a licensed attorney. Law Center for Better Housing cannot guarantee the accuracy or completeness of the information in this article and is not responsible for any consequences that may result from using it. You should consult with a licensed attorney to ensure the information in this article is appropriate for your specific situation. Using the information in this article does not create a relationship between Law Center for Better Housing and you as your attorney.

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