Reasonable Accommodations
Toolkit and FAQs

A Guide on How to Request Reasonable Accomodations

Under the fair housing laws housing providers must treat tenants with disabilities equally and grant reasonable accommodations a disabled tenant needs to fully use and enjoy their home. Reasonable accommodations are changes or exceptions to rules and policies because of a disability.

The purpose of this toolkit is to explain how to make a request for a reasonable accommodation. This toolkit contains detailed information on making a reasonable accommodation letter, frequently asked questions regarding the reasonable accommodation request process, and sample reasonable accommodation letters.

Step 1: Building Your Reasonable

Accommodation Request

Briefly describe your disability and how it affects you on a daily basis.

Know what disability relate accommodation you want to request.

Explain the connection between the accommodation and your disability.

Step 2: Supporting Your Reasonable Accommodation Request

Get, if necessary, third-party verification (for example, from a doctor or social worker) that shows you have a disability and a disability related need for an accommodation.

Step 3: Communicating Your Reasonable Accommodation Request

Make a documented request for a reasonable accommodation from your housing provider.
Communicate with your housing provider regarding your reasonable accommodation request.

Step 1:
Building Your Reasonable Accommodation Request

Frequently Asked Questions

A reasonable accommodation is an exception, adjustment or change in rules, policies, practices, or services that may be necessary to allow a person with a disability the equal opportunity to use and enjoy their dwelling, including public and common use spaces.

Housing providers must usually make these exceptions or changes if (1) the tenant is disabled; (2) the exception will help the tenant fully enjoy the property; and (3) the request is reasonable.

Changing a “no pets policy” to allow a mentally disabled tenant to keep an emotional support animal.
Changing a policy to allow a person with a mobility disability to be assigned a parking space closer to their unit.
Changing the rental due date from the first of the month to the seventh of the month for a tenant who receives their Social Security disability payments on the fifth of the month.
Creating a policy allowing a tenant with a mental disability, who is afraid to leave her residence, to be allowed to pay rent by mail.
Transferring a tenant to a first floor unit due to mobility issues.

Under federal law, a person is disabled if they have a mental or physical impairment that substantially limits any of their major life activities. Under California law, a person is disabled if they have a mental or physical impairment that limits any of their major life activities.
The term "substantially limits" suggests that the limitation is "significant" or "to a large degree." In California, a disability does not need to substantially limit a major life activity.
The term “major life activity” means those activities that are of central importance to daily life, such as seeing, hearing, walking, breathing, performing manual tasks, caring for one’s self, learning, and speaking.
The term "physical or mental impairment" includes, but is not limited to, diseases and conditions like orthopedic, visual, speech and hearing impairments, cerebral palsy, autism, epilepsy, muscular dystrophy, multiple sclerosis, cancer, heart disease, diabetes, Human Immunodeficiency Virus infection, developmental disabilities, emotional and mental illness, drug addiction (other than addiction caused by current, illegal use of a controlled substance) and alcoholism.

Step 2:
Supporting Your Reasonsable Accommodation Request

Frequently Asked Questions

When both the disability and the need for the disability-related accommodation are readily apparent or obvious, the landlord should not ask for any further proof to process the reasonable accommodation request.

For example, a landlord should not ask for any further information if a tenant with low vision is requesting an exception to the housing providers “no pets policy” in order to keep a seeing eye dog.

In response to a request for a reasonable accommodation, a housing provider may request reliable disability-related information that:

(1) is necessary to verify that the person has a disability (i.e., a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities).

(2) describes the needed accommodation.

(3) shows the relationship between the person’s disability and the need for the requested accommodation.

Any reliable third party who is in a position to know about the individual's disability such as a doctor or other medical professional, a peer support group, or a non-medical service agency, may provide verification of a disability and a disability-related need for a reasonable accommodation. Proof that an individual under 65 years of age receives Supplemental Security Income or Social Security Disability Insurance benefits or a credible statement by the individual may also be used to show proof of the disability.

Step 3:
Communicating Your Reasonable Accommodation Request and Troubleshooting

Frequently Asked Questions

As mentioned earlier, a reasonable accommodation request may be made verbally or in writing. If made verbally, consider bringing someone with you who can witness the request.

If the request is in writing, you can send a letter and keep a copy for yourself, and you can use Certified Mail to track your request. If you hand deliver a copy, make sure you have made a copy of the request for your records. If you send an email, you can save and/or print a copy of the email showing a time and date stamp.

A reasonable accommodation request can be denied for the following reasons:

If the required verification of the disability and the disability-related need for the accommodation is not provided.
If granting the accommodation would impose an undue financial and administrative burden on the housing provider.
If it would fundamentally alter the nature of the provider's operations.
If granting the reasonable accommodation would constitute a "direct threat" to the health, safety or property of other residents.

In the event that there is resistance to the accommodation request, you have several options:

continued efforts at creating a reasonable accommodation amenable to both parties.
contacting a fair housing agency like Project Sentinel for further counseling on your fair housing rights.
filing a complaint with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for administrative enforcement.
filing a complaint with the California Department of Fair Employment and Housing (DFEH) for administrative enforcement.
seeking a private attorney to enforce the reasonable accommodation via civil action.

Other Related Resources

Sample Letter - Request for Doctor/Medical Note

Sample Letter - Doctor's Letter

Sample Letter - General Reasonable Accommodation Letter

Sample Letter - Reasonable Accommodation Letter for Service Animal

Contact Project Sentinel for Assistance

Project Sentinel is a nonprofit fair housing agency that provides education and counseling to community members, housing providers, and tenants about the fair housing laws. We also investigate complaints and advocate for those who have experienced housing discrimination.

Contact Us

Know Your Rights

Under federal and state Fair Housing laws, it is illegal for anyone involved

with the sale or rental of housing including owners, property managers and staff, real estate agents, HOAs, shelters, banks, and mobile home parks to:

refuse to rent or sell a home
charge higher rent or security deposit
steer people to or from homes in certain neighborhoods or buildings
evict a tenant
apply different rules or criteria, or otherwise
treat people differently
harass or threaten a housing seeker, their friends, and family members

...because of one of the following protected characteristics:

Federally Protected Classes:

Race
Color
National origin
Religion
Sex
Disability
Familial status*

California protects all the same federal classes but offers additional classes of protection.

California Protected Classes:

Veteran or Military Status
Ancestry
Gender Identity & Expression
Source of Income**
Sexual Orientation
Marital Status
Immigration Status
Primary Language
Citizenship
Arbitrary Characteristics (that have no relation to one's ability to be a good tenant.)

*Family with children under the age of 18

**Section 8/ Federal, State, or Local Public Assistance & Housing Subsidies

Reasonable Accommodations
Toolkit and FAQs

Step 1:
Building Your Reasonable Accommodation Request

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a reasonable accommodation?

What are common examples of reasonable accommodations?

Who can ask for a reasonable accommodation?

What do I put in my reasonable accommodation request letter?

How is “disability” defined under the fair housing laws?

Step 2:
Supporting Your Reasonsable Accommodation Request

Frequently Asked Questions

Can my housing provider ask for proof that I have a disability?

Can my housing provider ask for proof that there is a connection between my disability and the requested reasonable accommodation?

When is the housing provider prohibited from asking for further information to process a reasonable accommodation request?

If proof is required to show that I am disabled or have a disability-related need for an accommodation, what information can my housing provider request?

What are examples of documents that may be used to verify my disability and disability related need for an accommodation?

How do I explain to a third party, like a doctor, what needs to be in their letter supporting my request for reasonable accommodation?

Step 3:
Communicating Your Reasonable Accommodation Request and Troubleshooting

Frequently Asked Questions

Does a housing provider have to automatically provide or offer reasonable accommodations for a tenant with a disability?

How do I ask for a reasonable accommodation?

How should I document my reasonable accommodation request?

What happens to letters and information that I send to my housing provider?

Can my landlord deny my reasonable accommodation request?

What if my housing provider does not respond to my request?

Can my request be denied because I did not follow my housing provider’s procedures for making a reasonable accommodation request?

Do I have to pay for my reasonable accommodation?

Can my housing provider retaliate against me because I asked for an accommodation?

What should I do if my reasonable accommodation request is wrongfully denied?

Contact Project Sentinel for Assistance

Federally Protected Classes:

Race

Color

National origin

Religion

Sex

Disability

Familial status*

California protects all the same federal classes but offers additional classes of protection.

California Protected Classes:

Reasonable Accommodations Toolkit and FAQs

Step 1: Building Your Reasonable Accommodation Request

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a reasonable accommodation?

What are common examples of reasonable accommodations?

Who can ask for a reasonable accommodation?

What do I put in my reasonable accommodation request letter?

How is “disability” defined under the fair housing laws?

Step 2: Supporting Your Reasonsable Accommodation Request

Frequently Asked Questions

Can my housing provider ask for proof that I have a disability?

Can my housing provider ask for proof that there is a connection between my disability and the requested reasonable accommodation?

When is the housing provider prohibited from asking for further information to process a reasonable accommodation request?

If proof is required to show that I am disabled or have a disability-related need for an accommodation, what information can my housing provider request?

What are examples of documents that may be used to verify my disability and disability related need for an accommodation?

How do I explain to a third party, like a doctor, what needs to be in their letter supporting my request for reasonable accommodation?

Step 3: Communicating Your Reasonable Accommodation Request and Troubleshooting

Frequently Asked Questions

Does a housing provider have to automatically provide or offer reasonable accommodations for a tenant with a disability?

How do I ask for a reasonable accommodation?

How should I document my reasonable accommodation request?

What happens to letters and information that I send to my housing provider?

Can my landlord deny my reasonable accommodation request?

What if my housing provider does not respond to my request?

Can my request be denied because I did not follow my housing provider’s procedures for making a reasonable accommodation request?

Do I have to pay for my reasonable accommodation?

Can my housing provider retaliate against me because I asked for an accommodation?

What should I do if my reasonable accommodation request is wrongfully denied?

Contact Project Sentinel for Assistance

Federally Protected Classes:

Race

Color

National origin

Religion

Sex

Disability

Familial status*

​

California protects all the same federal classes but offers additional classes of protection.

California Protected Classes:

Reasonable Accommodations
Toolkit and FAQs

Step 1:
Building Your Reasonable Accommodation Request

Step 2:
Supporting Your Reasonsable Accommodation Request

Step 3:
Communicating Your Reasonable Accommodation Request and Troubleshooting