Medical Verification Process for Tenants and Medical Providers

Tenants are not the only ones who can request accommodations and modifications in housing. Medical and service providers are often brought into the accommodation modification process by both assisting clients with making accommodation requests and providing medical support.

One area that many medical professionals have questions about are how to provide effective medical support for their patients seeking reasonable accommodations and modifications.

Any provider with medical training and expertise who is familiar with the tenant and their disability can write a letter documenting the need for a tenant’s reasonable accommodation or modification. The letter should indicate the provider’s name and credentials, where they work, in their position, and explain that the tenant is a patient under their care. The letter should indicate that the tenant is a person with a mental health or physical disability and identify how the disability impacts or limits the individual’s daily life.

The letter is not required to identify the individual’s specific diagnoses and instead can just refer to the physical or mental impairment unless your patient requests disclosure of their specific disability. The provider should recommend or indicate the accommodation modification is medically necessary and how it will alleviate symptoms of the person’s disability or allow them to fully use and enjoy their dwelling.

As a way of an example, Jenny is diagnosed with an anxiety disorder and struggles to cope with stress, anxiety, and change. Jenny and her doctor believe that taking care of a dog would help alleviate Jenny’s anxiety symptoms. This would be considered an assistance animal under the Fair Housing Act.

Jenny’s doctor should provide a letter that indicates the following:

• Identify the medical provider’s name and practice where they work, explain that Jenny is a patient of the provider and is under their care.
• Explain that Jenny is a person with a mental health impairment that impacts her ability to manage stress, anxiety, and cope with change.
• Indicate that the provider recommends or believes it is medically necessary that Jenny be allowed to have a dog as an assistance animal because it will help her manage stress and cope with change and anxiety more effectively.

Providing medical support for your patient’s accommodation and modification requests is something that can provide measurable help for their ability to use their apartment and long-term improvements for their health.

If you are a medical provider and have any questions about how to assist patients with accommodation and modification requests, please contact New Hampshire Legal Assistance’s Fair Housing Project for advice.

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.