Introduction to Reasonable Accommodations and Modifications

Are you a person with a disability living in a rental home, apartment, or housing community?

Did you know that you have the right to request changes to your living space or housing policies to meet your needs?

Under the Federal Fair Housing Act and the New Hampshire Law Against Discrimination, you can request reasonable accommodations or modifications to allow yourself to have full use and enjoyment of your apartment.

This is similar to the process found in the Americans with Disabilities Act, but the Fair Housing Act specifically covers housing as opposed to employment and public accommodations.

A reasonable accommodation is a change in a rule or policy that allows an individual with a disability to fully use and enjoy the place where they live.

Accommodations include, but are not limited to, requests to transfer to accessible units, requests for support animals, and reserved accessible parking spaces.

A modification, on the other hand, is a physical change to the structure of your unit to allow someone to fully use and enjoy where they live.

This includes a number of accessibility features including ramps, lifts, shower grab bars, and specialized doorbells and fire alarms.

Under the Fair Housing Act, a disability is defined as a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities.

Think walking, talking, thinking, sleeping, things of that nature.

In order to be protected by the act, there must be a record of your impairment. However, this is not required if you are regarded as being impaired.

Everyone deserves a safe and accessible place to call home. Know your rights and don’t be afraid to speak up.

Acknowledgement and disclaimer: The work that provided the basis for this publication was supported by funding under a grant with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. The substance and findings of the work are dedicated to the public. The author and publisher are solely responsible for the accuracy of the statements and interpretations contained in this publication. Such interpretations do not necessarily reflect the views of the federal government.