Glossary Term
A reasonable accommodation is a change to a landlord's rules, policies, or services so a tenant with a disability has equal use and enjoyment of their home. Examples include allowing an assistance animal despite a no-pets policy or assigning a closer parking spot. Under fair housing law, landlords generally must grant accommodations unless they cause an undue burden or fundamentally change the housing.
In short
A reasonable accommodation is a change to a landlord's rules, policies, or services so a tenant with a disability has equal use and enjoyment of their home. Examples include allowing an assistance animal despite a no-pets policy or assigning a closer parking spot. Under fair housing law, landlords generally must grant accommodations unless they cause an undue burden or fundamentally change the housing.
The right accommodation can be the difference between keeping your home and losing it. Knowing how to ask and what landlords must consider protects your access to housing.
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Ask your landlord, ideally in writing, explaining the change you need and that it relates to a disability. You do not have to use special wording, but documenting the request helps if there is a dispute.
No. Charging extra because of a needed accommodation defeats the point of it — a pet fee for a service animal is the clearest example, and it is a fair housing violation. For an untrained emotional support animal, HUD narrowed its own enforcement to trained animals in May 2026, so a fee dispute over one now leans more on state law and on a private court action.
An accommodation changes a rule or policy, like waiving a no-pets rule. A modification is a physical change to the unit, such as installing grab bars; different rules can apply to each.
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