What we verified in “Reasonable accommodations and modifications if you have a disability”

Statements and where we checked them

The statements with rules, figures or dates, with the exact place in the source and the date we checked them.

1. The Fair Housing Act (42 U.S.C. §3604(f)) makes it unlawful to discriminate in renting, or to make a dwelling unavailable, because of a disability of the renter, of a person who lives or will live in the dwelling, or of anyone associated with them; and to discriminate in the terms, conditions or services of the dwelling for those reasons. The statute uses the word 'handicap.'

   Sources 1 · 42 U.S.C. §3604(f)(1)–(2): 'To discriminate in the sale or rental, or to otherwise make unavailable or deny, a dwelling to any buyer or renter because of a handicap of'; 'a person residing in or intending to reside in that dwelling after it is so sold, rented, or made available'; 'any person associated with that buyer or renter'; 'To discriminate against any person in the terms, conditions, or privileges of sale or rental of a dwelling' · Checked October 31, 2026

2. Under the Fair Housing Act (42 U.S.C. §3604(f)(3)), discrimination includes refusing to permit, at the expense of the person with a disability, reasonable modifications of the premises that may be necessary for full enjoyment, although in a rental the landlord may, where reasonable, require the tenant to restore the interior, reasonable wear and tear excepted; and refusing to make reasonable accommodations in rules, policies, practices or services that may be necessary for an equal opportunity to use and enjoy a dwelling.

   Sources 1 · 42 U.S.C. §3604(f)(3)(A)–(B): 'a refusal to permit, at the expense of the handicapped person , reasonable modifications of existing premises'; 'if such modifications may be necessary to afford such person full enjoyment of the premises'; 'the landlord may where it is reasonable to do so condition permission for a modification on the renter agreeing to restore the interior of the premises to the condition that existed before the modification, reasonable wear and tear excepted'; 'a refusal to make reasonable accommodations in rules, policies, practices, or services, when such accommodations may be necessary to afford such person equal opportunity to use and enjoy a dwelling' · Checked October 31, 2026

3. Under the Fair Housing Act (42 U.S.C. §3604(f)(9)), the law does not require a dwelling to be made available to someone whose tenancy would be a direct threat to the health or safety of others or would result in substantial physical damage to the property of others.

   Sources 1 · 42 U.S.C. §3604(f)(9): 'Nothing in this subsection requires that a dwelling be made available to an individual whose tenancy would constitute a direct threat to the health or safety of other individuals or whose tenancy would result in substantial physical damage to the property of others' · Checked October 31, 2026

4. Under HUD's regulation (24 CFR §100.201), a disability ('handicap') is a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities; having a record of such an impairment or being regarded as having one also counts; major life activities include caring for oneself, performing manual tasks, walking, seeing, hearing, speaking, breathing, learning and working; and it does not include current illegal use of or addiction to a controlled substance.

   Sources 4 · 24 CFR §100.201, 'Handicap': 'a physical or mental impairment which substantially limits one or more major life activities; a record of such an impairment; or being regarded as having such an impairment'; 'This term does not include current, illegal use of or addiction to a controlled substance'; 'Major life activities means functions such as caring for one's self, performing manual tasks, walking, seeing, hearing, speaking, breathing, learning and working' · Checked October 31, 2026

5. Under HUD's regulation (24 CFR §100.201), physical or mental impairments include, among others, visual, speech and hearing impairments, cerebral palsy, autism, epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, cancer, heart disease, diabetes, HIV infection, emotional illness and alcoholism.

   Sources 4 · 24 CFR §100.201, 'Physical or mental impairment': 'includes, but is not limited to, such diseases and conditions as orthopedic, visual, speech and hearing impairments, cerebral palsy, autism, epilepsy, muscular dystrophy, multiple sclerosis, cancer, heart disease, diabetes, Human Immunodeficiency Virus infection'; 'emotional illness'; 'and alcoholism' · Checked October 31, 2026

6. Under HUD's regulation (24 CFR §100.202(c)), it is unlawful to ask whether an applicant, someone who will live with them or an associated person has a disability, or to ask about its nature or severity; if asked of all applicants, a landlord may ask whether you can meet the requirements of tenancy, whether you qualify for housing or a priority for people with disabilities, whether you currently use or are addicted to illegal drugs, or whether you were convicted of making or selling them.

   Sources 5 · 24 CFR §100.202(c): 'It shall be unlawful to make an inquiry to determine whether an applicant for a dwelling'; 'or to make inquiry as to the nature or severity of a handicap of such a person'; 'provided these inquiries are made of all applicants, whether or not they have handicaps'; 'Inquiry into an applicant's ability to meet the requirements of ownership or tenancy'; 'qualified for a dwelling available only to persons with handicaps'; 'qualified for a priority available to persons with handicaps'; 'is a current illegal abuser or addict of a controlled substance'; 'has been convicted of the illegal manufacture or distribution of a controlled substance' · Checked October 31, 2026

7. Under HUD's regulation (24 CFR §100.204), it is unlawful to refuse reasonable accommodations in rules, policies, practices or services that may be necessary for a person with a disability to have an equal opportunity to use and enjoy a dwelling, including common areas; the regulation gives two examples, a blind applicant who wants to live with a seeing eye dog in a no-pets building, and a tenant who cannot walk more than a short distance and asks for a reserved parking space near his unit; refusing either one is a violation.

   Sources 7 · 24 CFR §100.204(a)–(b): 'It shall be unlawful for any person to refuse to make reasonable accommodations in rules, policies, practices, or services'; 'including public and common use areas'; 'A blind applicant for rental housing wants live in a dwelling unit with a seeing eye dog'; 'The building has a no pets policy'; 'is unable to walk more than a short distance and therefore requests that a parking space near his unit be reserved for him'; 'It is a violation of § 100.204 for the owner or manager of Progress Gardens to refuse to make this accommodation' · Checked October 31, 2026

8. Under HUD's regulation (24 CFR §100.203), in a rental the landlord may, where reasonable, require the tenant to restore the interior when leaving, reasonable wear and tear excepted; may not increase the customary security deposit for a person with a disability, but where needed to make sure restoration money will be there, may negotiate that the tenant pay a reasonable amount, not more than the restoration cost, into an interest-bearing escrow account over time, with interest going to the tenant; and may require a reasonable description of the change and assurances that the work will be done in a workmanlike manner with any required permits.

   Sources 6 · 24 CFR §100.203(a)–(b): 'condition permission for a modification on the renter agreeing to restore the interior of the premises to the condition that existed before the modification, reasonable wear and tear excepted'; 'The landlord may not increase for handicapped persons any customarily required security deposit'; 'a provision requiring that the tenant pay into an interest bearing escrow account, over a reasonable period, a reasonable amount of money not to exceed the cost of the restorations'; 'The interest in any such account shall accrue to the benefit of the tenant'; 'a reasonable description of the proposed modifications as well as reasonable assurances that the work will be done in a workmanlike manner and that any required building permits will be obtained' · Checked October 31, 2026

9. HUD's regulation (24 CFR §100.203(c)) gives two examples: a tenant who wants to install bathroom grab bars at their own expense, which requires reinforcing the wall; the landlord may not refuse and may require removing the bars and repairing the wall at the end, but not removing the reinforcement; and an applicant whose child uses a wheelchair and wants to widen the bathroom door at their own expense; the landlord may not refuse and usually may not require narrowing it again at the end of the lease.

   Sources 6 · 24 CFR §100.203(c), Examples (1)–(2): 'asks his or her landlord for permission to install grab bars in the bathroom at his or her own expense'; 'It would be reasonable for the landlord to require the tenant to remove the grab bars at the end of the tenancy'; 'it would be unreasonable for the landlord to require the tenant to remove the blocking'; 'has a child who uses a wheelchair'; 'asks the landlord for permission to widen the doorway at the applicant's own expense'; 'may not, in usual circumstances, condition permission for the modification on the applicant paying for the doorway to be narrowed at the end of the lease' · Checked October 31, 2026

10. According to the HUD–Justice Department Joint Statement on reasonable accommodations, a reasonable accommodation is a change, exception or adjustment to a rule, policy, practice or service that may be necessary for a person with a disability to have an equal opportunity to use and enjoy a dwelling, including common areas; there must be an identifiable relationship between the request and the disability; and examples include an assigned accessible parking space near the entrance, or letting a friend mail the rent for a tenant whose mental disability makes her afraid to leave her unit.

    Sources 8 · Joint Statement, Reasonable Accommodations Under the Fair Housing Act (May 17, 2004), question 6: 'A “reasonable accommodation” is a change, exception, or adjustment to a rule, policy, practice, or service that may be necessary for a person with a disability to have an equal opportunity to use and enjoy a dwelling, including public and common use spaces'; 'there must be an identifiable relationship, or nexus, between the requested accommodation and the individual’s disability'; 'requests an assigned accessible parking space close to the entrance to her unit'; 'A tenant has a mental disability that makes her afraid to leave her unit'; 'she requests that she be permitted to have a friend mail her rent payment' · Checked October 31, 2026

11. According to the HUD–Justice Department Joint Statement, the Act uses the term 'handicap' instead of 'disability,' and both have the same legal meaning.

    Sources 8 · Joint Statement, Reasonable Accommodations, footnote 2: 'The Act uses the term “handicap” instead of the term “disability.” Both terms have the same legal meaning' · Checked October 31, 2026

12. According to the Joint Statement, a provider may deny an accommodation if it was not requested by or for a person with a disability, if there is no disability-related need, or if it is not reasonable because it would impose an undue financial and administrative burden or fundamentally alter the provider's operations; that is decided case by case; and if the provider denies it as unreasonable, it should discuss an alternative with you, and if that alternative is effective and reasonable, it must grant it.

    Sources 8 · Joint Statement, Reasonable Accommodations, question 7: 'A housing provider can deny a request for a reasonable accommodation if the request was not made by or on behalf of a person with a disability or if there is no disability-related need for the accommodation'; 'if it would impose an undue financial and administrative burden on the housing provider or it would fundamentally alter the nature of the provider's operations'; 'must be made on a case-by-case basis'; 'the provider should discuss with the requester whether there is an alternative accommodation'; 'If an alternative accommodation would effectively meet the requester's disability-related needs and is reasonable, the provider must grant it' · Checked October 31, 2026

13. According to the Joint Statement, people with disabilities typically know best the functional limitations their disability causes, and they do not have to accept an alternative the provider suggests if they believe it will not meet their needs and what they asked for is reasonable.

    Sources 8 · Joint Statement, Reasonable Accommodations, question 7: 'persons with disabilities typically have the most accurate knowledge about the functional limitations posed by their disability'; 'an individual is not obligated to accept an alternative accommodation suggested by the provider if she believes it will not meet her needs and her preferred accommodation is reasonable' · Checked October 31, 2026

14. According to the Joint Statement, a provider may not require a person with a disability to pay extra fees or deposits as a condition of receiving a reasonable accommodation; it may charge for damage the person causes if it is its practice to charge all tenants for damage.

    Sources 8 · Joint Statement, Reasonable Accommodations, question 11: 'Housing providers may not require persons with disabilities to pay extra fees or deposits as a condition of receiving a reasonable accommodation'; 'the housing provider may charge him for the cost of repairing the damage'; 'if it is the provider's practice to assess tenants for any damage they cause to the premises' · Checked October 31, 2026

15. According to the Joint Statement, you make a reasonable accommodation request when you make clear to the provider that you are asking for an exception, change or adjustment because of your disability; you explain what you need and, if the need is not obvious, how it relates to your disability; the law does not require a particular manner or time; a family member or someone else can ask for you; you do not have to mention the Act or use the words 'reasonable accommodation'; it can be oral or written, though writing helps avoid misunderstandings; and the provider must consider it even if you do not use its form.

    Sources 8 · Joint Statement, Reasonable Accommodations, question 12: 'makes clear to the housing provider that she is requesting an exception, change, or adjustment to a rule, policy, practice, or service because of her disability'; 'explain the relationship between the requested accommodation and her disability'; 'the Fair Housing Act does not require that a request be made in a particular manner or at a particular time'; 'the request can be made by a family member or someone else who is acting on her behalf'; 'does not need to mention the Act or use the words “reasonable accommodation.”'; 'can be made orally or in writing, it is usually helpful for both the resident and the housing provider if the request is made in writing'; 'housing providers must give appropriate consideration to reasonable accommodation requests even if the requester makes the request orally or does not use the provider's preferred forms' · Checked October 31, 2026

16. According to the Joint Statement, the provider must respond promptly, and an undue delay may be deemed a failure to provide the reasonable accommodation.

    Sources 8 · Joint Statement, Reasonable Accommodations, question 15: 'A provider has an obligation to provide prompt responses to reasonable accommodation requests'; 'An undue delay in responding to a reasonable accommodation request may be deemed to be a failure to provide a reasonable accommodation' · Checked October 31, 2026

17. According to the Joint Statement, if your disability and the need are obvious or known, the provider may not ask for more information; if the disability is not obvious, it may ask for reliable information that shows you meet the definition of disability, describes the accommodation and shows the link between them; you can often provide it yourself, for example with proof that, if you are under 65, you receive SSI or SSDI, or with a credible statement, and so can a doctor, a peer support group, a non-medical service agency or another reliable third party who knows about your disability; in most cases your medical records are not needed; and the information must be kept confidential.

    Sources 8 · Joint Statement, Reasonable Accommodations, questions 17 and 18: 'then the provider may not request any additional information'; 'about the requester's disability or the disability-related need for the accommodation'; 'may request reliable disability-related information that (1) is necessary to verify that the person meets the Act’s definition of disability'; '(2) describes the needed accommodation, and (3) shows the relationship between the person’s disability and the need for the requested accommodation'; 'proof that an individual under 65 years of age receives Supplemental Security Income or Social Security Disability Insurance benefits10 or a credible statement by the individual'; 'a peer support group, a non-medical service agency, or a reliable third party who is in a position to know about the individual's disability'; 'In most cases, an individual's medical records or detailed information about the nature of a person's disability is not necessary for this inquiry'; 'Such information must be kept confidential' · Checked October 31, 2026

18. According to the HUD–Justice Department Joint Statement on reasonable modifications, a reasonable modification is a structural change to the premises so a person with a disability can fully enjoy them; it can be inside, outside or in common areas; it can be requested at any time during the tenancy; and changes that are typically reasonable include widening doorways, installing bathroom grab bars, lowering kitchen cabinets, adding a ramp at the entrance or altering a walkway to reach a common area.

    Sources 9 · Joint Statement, Reasonable Modifications Under the Fair Housing Act (March 5, 2008), question 2: 'A reasonable modification is a structural change made to existing premises'; 'Reasonable modifications can include structural changes to interiors and exteriors of dwellings and to common and public use areas'; 'A request for a reasonable modification may be made at any time during the tenancy'; 'widening doorways to make rooms more accessible for persons in wheelchairs; installing grab bars in bathrooms; lowering kitchen cabinets'; 'adding a ramp to make a primary entrance accessible'; 'altering a walkway to provide access to a public or common use area' · Checked October 31, 2026

19. According to the Joint Statement on modifications, generally the provider pays for a reasonable accommodation unless it is an undue financial and administrative burden, and the tenant pays for a reasonable modification; you need the provider's approval before making the modification, but if you meet the requirements and provide the needed documents and assurances, the provider cannot deny it; and it must respond promptly.

    Sources 9 · Joint Statement, Reasonable Modifications, questions 3, 9, 16 and 17: 'the housing provider is responsible for the costs associated with a reasonable accommodation unless it is an undue financial and administrative burden'; 'the tenant or someone acting on the tenant’s behalf, is responsible for costs associated with a reasonable modification'; 'A person with a disability must have the housing provider’s approval before making the modification'; 'the housing provider cannot deny the request'; 'A provider has an obligation to provide prompt responses to a reasonable modification request' · Checked October 31, 2026

20. According to the Joint Statement on modifications, housing that receives federal financial assistance is covered by both the Fair Housing Act and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act; under Section 504, structural changes an applicant or tenant with a disability needs are treated as reasonable accommodations that the provider must pay for, unless that would be an undue financial and administrative burden or a fundamental alteration of the program, or the provider can meet the need another way, such as a transfer to another appropriate unit.

    Sources 9 · Joint Statement, Reasonable Modifications, question 31: 'Housing that receives federal financial assistance is covered by both the Fair Housing Act and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973'; 'structural changes needed by an applicant or resident with a disability in housing receiving federal financial assistance are considered reasonable accommodations'; 'They must be paid for by the housing provider unless providing them would be an undue financial and administrative burden or a fundamental alteration of the program'; 'by transferring the tenant to another appropriate unit that contains a roll-in shower' · Checked October 31, 2026

21. According to a HUD notice in the Federal Register published April 6, 2026 (91 FR 17291), the Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity (FHEO) withdrew, effective September 17, 2025, several guidance documents, including notice FHEO-2020-01 on requests to have an animal as a reasonable accommodation and notice FHEO 2013-01 on service and assistance animals; HUD says they should not be relied upon as authoritative; and actions that do not comply with the text of the Fair Housing Act remain subject to enforcement.

    Sources 10 · Notification of Withdrawal of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity Guidance Documents, 91 FR 17291 (April 6, 2026): 'Effective date of withdrawal: September 17, 2025'; 'FHEO 2020-01: Assessing a Person's Request'; 'to Have an Animal as a Reasonable'; 'FHEO Notice 2013-01: Service Animals and'; 'These documents have been removed from active use and should not be relied upon as authoritative'; 'Any actions that do not comply with the text of the Fair Housing Act continue to be subject to enforcement by the Department' · Checked October 31, 2026

22. In an enforcement memorandum dated May 22, 2026, HUD's Assistant Secretary for Fair Housing said that, effective immediately, for animal-related reasonable accommodation complaints FHEO will find reasonable cause and recommend charges only in cases involving animals trained to provide disability-related assistance; that requests to waive pet policies for animals trained for disability-related tasks are presumptively reasonable, but those for untrained emotional support animals are not; that the animal could be a species other than a dog if it is trained; and that the memo does not address how HUD will process complaints under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act or the ADA.

    Sources 11 · HUD, Enforcement Guidance – Assessing Requests for the Use of an Animal as a Reasonable Accommodation Under the Fair Housing Act (May 22, 2026): 'Effective immediately, for complaints related to animal-related reasonable'; 'FHEO will find reasonable cause and recommend charges only for'; 'those cases involving animals trained to provide disability-related assistance'; 'This guidance does not address how the Department will process complaints against'; 'housing providers under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act or the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)'; 'While requests to waive pet policies for animals trained to perform specific disability-'; 'related services are presumptively reasonable, requests to waive pet policies for'; 'untrained ESAs are not'; 'could involve a species other than a dog, provided the animal is trained to perform a' · Checked October 31, 2026

23. The same HUD memo says that, whatever HUD decides in a case, the Fair Housing Act lets a complainant file a civil action in federal or state court within two years, and nothing in that guidance affects the right to seek redress in court; and that HUD intends to do notice-and-comment rulemaking on animal-related reasonable accommodations.

    Sources 11 · HUD, Enforcement Guidance (May 22, 2026): 'a complainant may file a civil action in an appropriate'; 'federal district court or state court within two years after the occurrence or'; 'Nothing in this enforcement guidance affects the rights of parties to seek redress through a private action in court'; 'The Department intends to engage in'; 'notice and comment rulemaking regarding animal-related reasonable' · Checked October 31, 2026

24. Under the Fair Housing Act (42 U.S.C. §3610), an aggrieved person may file a complaint with HUD no later than one year after the discriminatory practice occurred or ended.

    Sources 2 · 42 U.S.C. §3610(a)(1)(A)(i): 'not later than one year after an alleged discriminatory housing practice has occurred or terminated, file a complaint with the Secretary' · Checked October 31, 2026

25. Under the Fair Housing Act (42 U.S.C. §3613), an aggrieved person may sue in federal or state court no later than 2 years after the discriminatory practice occurred or ended, whether or not they filed a HUD complaint.

    Sources 3 · 42 U.S.C. §3613(a)(1)(A)–(B): 'not later than 2 years after the occurrence or the termination of an alleged discriminatory housing practice'; 'whether or not a complaint has been filed under section 3610(a)' · Checked October 31, 2026

26. According to HUD, when you contact its Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity (FHEO) you can ask for disability-related assistance, including reasonable accommodations and auxiliary aids and services; and HUD lists the regional FHEO office that serves each state.

    Sources 12 · Contact information for FHEO Offices: 'You can also ask for disability-related assistance when you contact FHEO, including reasonable accommodations and auxiliary aids and services'; 'Contact Your Regional FHEO Office' · Checked October 31, 2026

27. The Legal Services Corporation (LSC) has a search tool: you enter an address or city and it shows an LSC-funded legal aid organization near you.

    Sources 13 · I Need Legal Help: 'enter an address or city below to find an LSC-funded legal aid organization near you' · Checked October 31, 2026