Requests & Accommodations template
Free reasonable accommodation request letter template under the Fair Housing Act. Request disability-related accommodations from your landlord, such as service animals, reserved parking, or unit modifications.
Use this letter when you need a disability-related accommodation from your landlord under the Fair Housing Act. Common accommodations include permission for an emotional support animal, reserved accessible parking, permission to modify the unit (grab bars, ramps), transfer to a more accessible unit, or exceptions to policies that create barriers for people with disabilities. The Fair Housing Act applies to nearly all housing and requires landlords to grant reasonable accommodations unless they pose an undue burden.
[YOUR_NAME] [YOUR_ADDRESS] [CITY_STATE_ZIP] [DATE] [LANDLORD_NAME] [LANDLORD_ADDRESS] [LANDLORD_CITY_STATE_ZIP] Re: Request for Reasonable Accommodation Under the Fair Housing Act Rental Property: [PROPERTY_ADDRESS] Dear [LANDLORD_NAME], I am writing to formally request a reasonable accommodation under the Fair Housing Act (42 U.S.C. § 3604) and [STATE] fair housing law in connection with my tenancy at the above-referenced property. I have a disability as defined under the Fair Housing Act that substantially limits one or more major life activities. Due to my disability, I am requesting the following accommodation(s): [ACCOMMODATION_REQUEST — e.g., "Permission to keep an emotional support animal (a [ANIMAL_TYPE]) in my unit, notwithstanding the property's no-pet policy." / "A designated accessible parking space near the building entrance." / "Permission to install grab bars in the bathroom at my expense." / "A transfer to a ground-floor unit to eliminate the need to use stairs."] This accommodation is necessary because [BRIEF_EXPLANATION_OF_NEXUS — e.g., "my disability makes it difficult to navigate stairs safely, and a ground-floor unit would allow me to access my home independently" / "my healthcare provider has determined that an emotional support animal is part of my treatment plan and is necessary for my mental health"]. I have attached a letter from my healthcare provider, [PROVIDER_NAME], [PROVIDER_CREDENTIALS], confirming my disability-related need for this accommodation. The letter does not disclose my specific diagnosis, as the Fair Housing Act does not require disclosure of the nature or severity of the disability — only verification of the disability-related need. Under the Fair Housing Act, housing providers are required to grant reasonable accommodations that are necessary for a person with a disability to have equal opportunity to use and enjoy their dwelling. A reasonable accommodation is one that does not impose an undue financial or administrative burden on the housing provider and does not fundamentally alter the nature of the housing. I respectfully request a written response to this accommodation request within [RESPONSE_DAYS — typically 10 to 14] days. If you need additional information to process this request, please let me know in writing and I will respond promptly. Thank you for your cooperation. Sincerely, [YOUR_NAME] Enclosure: Healthcare Provider Letter
Replace all [PLACEHOLDER] fields with your actual information before sending.
Obtain a letter from your healthcare provider confirming your disability-related need before sending this request. The provider letter should state that you have a disability and that the accommodation is necessary — it does not need to disclose your diagnosis.
Be specific about what accommodation you are requesting and explain the connection (nexus) between your disability and the need for the accommodation.
Do not disclose your specific diagnosis to your landlord — you are only required to verify that you have a disability-related need.
Send via certified mail with return receipt requested and keep copies of everything.
If your landlord denies the request, ask for the denial in writing with specific reasons — this is important if you need to file a complaint.
If your request is for an animal, say whether it is trained to do a specific task related to your disability and name the task — since May 2026 that is what decides whether HUD itself will pursue a complaint. An untrained emotional support animal is still worth requesting: the Fair Housing Act is unchanged, you can still sue, and some states protect ESAs directly.
If you experience any adverse action after making this request, document it as potential retaliation/discrimination.
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