What are reasonable accommodations for disabilities?
Quick answer
A reasonable accommodation is a change to a rule, policy, or service that lets a tenant with a disability fully use their home. Common examples include an assigned accessible parking spot, allowing an assistance animal despite a no-pets rule, or accepting rent from a support agency. Fair housing law generally requires them unless the request creates an undue burden.
What counts as a reasonable accommodation
A reasonable accommodation is an exception or adjustment to how you normally run your rental. You make the change so a tenant with a disability has equal use and enjoyment of the home. The disability does not have to be visible, and the tenant does not have to name it.
- Reserving an accessible parking space close to the unit.
- Allowing an assistance animal even when your lease says no pets.
- Accepting rent or paperwork from a third party, such as a case manager.
- Sending notices in a larger font or another accessible format.
- Moving a tenant to a ground-floor unit when one becomes available.
An accommodation changes a policy or practice. A physical change to the unit, like a grab bar or an entry ramp, is a reasonable modification, which follows a separate set of rules. Figure out which one the tenant is actually asking for before you respond.
How to handle an accommodation request
A tenant does not need magic words or a special form. Any clear ask that links a disability to a needed change starts the process. Treat it seriously the moment you hear it, whether it arrives by text, email, or a passing comment.
- If the disability and the need are obvious, ask for nothing more and respond.
- If they are not obvious, you may request reliable verification that a disability exists and that the accommodation is needed.
- Do not ask for a diagnosis, medical records, or details about the condition itself.
Engage in a back and forth, sometimes called the interactive process. If the exact request is difficult, offer a workable alternative rather than a flat refusal. Once you agree, put the arrangement in writing so both sides are clear on what was granted and why.
When you can deny a request
You are not required to grant every request. You can decline one that would impose an undue financial or administrative burden, or that would fundamentally change the nature of your operation. You may also act when a specific animal or person poses a direct, documented threat that cannot be reduced.
Denials are where landlords most often get sued, so move carefully and keep your reasoning in writing. The specific limits, response timelines, and verification you may request vary by state, and some places add their own protections. Read the guides at /laws/ and confirm anything close to the line with your own attorney.
How Rentari helps
Rentari will not decide a fair housing question for you, but it keeps the paper trail that protects you when one comes up. Handle the request inside Messaging and Renewals so the ask, your response, and any verification stay time-stamped in one thread instead of scattered across texts and email.
When you agree to an accommodation, record it as a signed addendum with E-Sign and Leases, which keeps a court-ready audit trail. Pull notices from the Landlord Forms library when you need them. You can also run your lease through the AI Lease Audit to catch a blanket no-pets clause that could trip you up on an assistance-animal request.
Related questions
Can I charge a fee or deposit for a reasonable accommodation?
Do I have to grant a request immediately?
What if two tenants make conflicting accommodation requests?
This article is general information for landlords, not legal, tax, or financial advice. Rules vary by state and city; verify specifics with the official statute or a licensed professional. See our state law guides.