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Under state and federal disability and housing laws, housing providers are not allowed to discriminate on the basis of disability. Most housing providers must grant reasonable accommodations that will allow people with disabilities to equally enjoy their housing.
In rare situations, these laws do not apply and the housing provider is not required to provide reasonable accommodations. Contact MOD to check which housing and disability rights laws apply to your housing.
A reasonable accommodation is a change, exception, or adjustment to a rule, policy, practice, or service that will allow a person with a disability to have an equal opportunity to use and enjoy a dwelling, including public and common spaces.
Examples of reasonable accommodations include:
- Assigning a closer parking space to a resident with a mobility disability
- Making an exception to a no animals policy to allow a tenant to have a service dog or emotional support animal
- Assisting an applicant with a cognitive disability with completing paperwork
Accommodations are considered “reasonable” if they are safe, needed due to a disability, do not impose an undue financial or administrative burden, and do not fundamentally alter the nature of the housing provider’s operations.
If an accommodation is unreasonable, the housing provider is allowed to deny it. If the accommodation is reasonable, the housing provider is expected to allow it. If the accommodation costs money, the provider is responsible for paying for it.
A reasonable modification is a structural change that is made to an existing housing unit that will allow a person with a disability equal access and full enjoyment of it.
Examples of reasonable modifications include:
- Installing a visual fire alarm for a tenant who is Deaf
- Ramping a step at an entrance for a wheelchair user
- Adjusting the door pressure to make opening the door easier for someone with limited arm strength
- Installing grab bars in a shower and by a toilet for a tenant who has a high fall risk
Modifications are considered “reasonable” if they are safe, needed due to a disability, do not impose an undue financial or administrative burden, and do not fundamentally alter the nature of the housing provider’s operations.
If a modification is unreasonable, the housing provider is allowed to deny it. If the modification is reasonable, the housing provider is expected to allow it. If the housing is public or in a large housing complex, the housing provider should pay for the modification. Otherwise, the housing provider can allow the modification but require the tenant to pay for it.
Follow our tips on requesting a reasonable accommodation/modification in housing to understand the process and help your request go smoothly.
Note: MOD does not provide direct assistance for housing matters such as finding housing, tenant rights, poor conditions, and eviction. Visit housing resources for people with disabilities for guidance on who to contact instead.
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