Interactive Self-Help Guide for Requesting a Reasonable Accommodation or Reasonable Modification

Interactive Self-Help Guide for Requesting a Reasonable Accommodation or Reasonable Modification
This form will help you create a letter asking your landlord or property manager to change a rule or policy, or for permission to make changes to your apartment.

It may be illegal under fair housing laws for a landlord to refuse to make reasonable accommodations and reasonable modifications.

A reasonable accommodation is a change in a rule, policy, or practice that could help a person with a disability use and enjoy their home. Examples of a reasonable accommodation include:
- a transfer to a different unit
- a companion or service animal
- a closer parking space
A reasonable modification is a physical change in an apartment or a building that a person with disabilities may need in order to use and enjoy their home. Examples of a resonable modification include:
- grab bars to be installed in your bathroom
- a carpet to be removed to make it easier to use your wheelchair
- a ramp to be installed
- cabinets to be lowered
NOTE: Owners of private housing are not required to pay for modifications. You may still request a modification, but you may have to pay for the modification yourself.
To use this tool you must accept our terms of use. Click on the following items to read them:

Privacy PolicyGeneral Terms of Use
Privacy Policy

This website will help you create a letter asking your landlord for a change in a rule or policy, or for permission to make changes to your apartment based on a disability-related need. To help you create this letter, you will be asked for your name, address, email address, and telephone number.

You will also be asked for information about your disability and your need for a reasonable accommodation or modification.

The information that you give will may be saved in The Fair Housing Center’s files or otherwise stored for later review.

We will not give any of your personal information to anyone unless you ask us to or provide consent.

The Fair Housing Center may aggregate information provided through this form from multiple users to report on statistics, including, but not limited to, the number of persons who have used the form, the most common types of disabilities reported on the form, and the landlords most often identified on the form. But in reporting these statistics, The Fair Housing Center will not reveal any personal information from an individual user unless that individual provides consent.
General Terms of Use

The Fair Housing Center, Inc. is a nonprofit corporation that provides this website as a free service to residents of Lucas and Wood counties in Ohio who are:
- Individuals with disabilities
- Advocates acting on behalf individuals with disabilities on a not-for-profit basis
- Lawyers and their staff giving not-for-profit or reduced-fee legal help to individuals with disabilities
When you use this website, you agree to all of the terms listed below. Please read them carefully. Also check this page periodically because The Fair Housing Center may update these terms at any time. All updates become effective when posted and apply retroactively unless otherwise stated.

Using this site means you agree to review and follow these:
- Terms of use
- All updates
- Other rules posted at this site
Together, these terms, updates, and other rules form the complete agreement between you and The Fair Housing Center. The most recent version always supersedes any previous version. This agreement may not be modified except as stated herein or by written consent.

Permitted Use
This website is intended for use by individuals with disabilities, advocates acting on behalf of individuals with disabilities on a not-for-profit basis, and lawyers and their staff giving not-for-profit or reduced-fee legal help to people with disabilities. This website is intended to assist individuals with disabilities in requesting a reasonable accommodation or reasonable modification from housing providers. By using this website, you are agreeing that you will only use this website for its intended use.

You Agree to Provide Accurate and Truthful Information
By using this website, you will be asked to provide your (or your client’s) name, address, telephone number, email address, and information relating to your (or your client’s) disability and need for accommodation or modification. By agreeing to the terms of use, you are warranting that the information you provide to the website is accurate and truthful.

The Fair Housing Center is Not Your Lawyer
This website is not a substitute for legal advice from a lawyer. The website provides information regarding requests for reasonable accommodation or modification, but it is not a substitute for legal advice from a qualified lawyer. Your use of this website does not create any attorney-client relationship or any fiduciary relationship or other relationship between you and The Fair Housing Center.

Disclaimer
The accuracy of the content on this website is neither warranted nor guaranteed and you use this website at your own risk. The information provided here is not guaranteed to be correct, complete, or up to date.

The information provided here does not necessarily reflect the opinions of The Fair Housing Center, or any of its staff.

If you have questions about reasonable accommodations or modifications or another fair housing issue, you may call The Fair Housing Center at 419-243-6163 for assistance.

If you wish to seek legal advice regarding your request for reasonable accommodation or modification or another fair housing issue, you should call The Fair Housing Center at 419-243-6163 for assistance.

Advocate Responsibilities
This website may be used by advocates, including those acting on behalf of individuals with disabilities on a not-for-profit basis and lawyers and their staff giving not-for-profit or reduced-fee legal help to individuals with disabilities.

When you use this website as an advocate, you agree that you alone are responsible for protecting the interest of the person you are assisting, including but not limited to:
- Using your own professional judgment to apply any information from this site to the facts and circumstances of your case;
- Verifying any information you get from this site;
- Personally assuring that your advice is based on accurate and complete information and research from any available sources; and
- Complying with all rules and ethical standards that may apply to you
I have read and agree to the above terms:*

YesNo

I am making this request:*

For myselfOn behalf of a client, friend, or family member
Reasonable accommodations and reasonable modifications are available for people with disabilities.

Fair Housing laws define a person with a disability as a person with a physical or mental impairment that causes a significant limitation in one or more life activities.

Examples of impairments include: AIDS/HIV, recovery from alcohol or substance use, asthma, depression, back problems, fibromyalgia, cancer, brain injury, etc.

Major life physical activities include: caring for yourself, walking, seeing, hearing, using your hands, breathing, bending, working, standing, sleeping, eating, reading, etc.

Major life mental activities include: thinking, learning, remembering, interacting with other people, concentrating, handling stress, etc.
Do you—or your client, friend, or family member—meet the above definition of a person with a disability?

YesNo
To request a reasonable accommodation or reasonable modification, you must meet the definition of a person with a disability. For more information about reasonable accommodations and reasonable modifications, click here.

Your Own Contact Information (not that of the person you are assisting)
Your Name*

First Name Last Name
Your Company Name
Your Address*

Street Address
Street Address Line 2
City State
Zip Code
Your Phone Number*

Area Code Phone Number
Your Email*
example@example.com

Your Client’s Contact Information
Your Client’s Name*

First Name Last Name
Your Client’s Address*

Street Address
Street Address Line 2
City State
Zip Code
Your Client’s Phone Number*

Area Code Phone Number
Your Client’s Email*
example@example.com
Your Client’s Landlord or Property Manager’s Contact Information
Client’s Landlord or Property Manager’s Name*

First Name Last Name
Client’s Landlord or Property Manager’s Company Name
Client’s Landlord or Property Manager’s Address

Street Address
Street Address Line 2
City State
Zip Code
Client’s Landlord or Property Manager’s Phone Number

Area Code Phone Number
Client’s Landlord or Property Manager’s Email
example@example.com

Your Contact Information
Your Name*

First Name Last Name
Your Address*

Street Address
Street Address Line 2
City State
Zip Code
Your Phone Number*

Area Code Phone Number
Your Email*
example@example.com
Your Landlord or Property Manager’s Contact Information
Landlord or Property Manager’s Name*

First Name Last Name
Landlord or Property Manager’s Company Name
Landlord or Property Manager’s Address

Street Address
Street Address Line 2
City State
Zip Code
Landlord or Property Manager’s Phone Number

Area Code Phone Number
Landlord or Property Manager’s Email
example@example.com

This request is for:*

A reasonable accommodation (a change or exception to a rule, policy, or practice).A reasonable modification (a change in a structure or in something connected to my home).
Examples of a reasonable accommodation include:
- a transfer to a different unit
- a companion or service animal
- a closer parking space
Examples of a resonable modification include:
- grab bars to be installed in your bathroom
- a carpet to be removed to make it easier to use your wheelchair
- a ramp to be installed
- cabinets to be lowered
NOTE: Owners of private housing are not required to pay for modifications. You may still request a modification, but you may have to pay for the modification yourself.

In general, you should give the housing provider up to two weeks to respond to your request.*

MonthDay Year
Deadline

We have created a letter for you that you can send to the housing provider to request a reasonable accommodation.

When you click the Finish button below, your letter will be sent to the email you provided at the beginning. Please check your inbox for an email from JotForm.

Save and print this letter, and then sign it and send it to the housing provider.

The housing provider may grant your request, deny your request, or ask for more information.

Sometimes a housing provider may ask for a doctor’s note or other information relating to a request:

Sometimes your disability is visible and everyone knows you have a disability. For example, it’s clear that someone has a disability if they use a wheelchair or a walker to get around. In that case, the need for a handicapped parking space is also clear. In cases where your disability is obvious and the need for the change in policy is obvious, a housing provider does not need to get any information from your doctor before granting your request for a reasonable accommodation or modification.

Sometimes your disability is not visible or the reason you need a change in a rule is not obvious. In those cases, you may need to give your housing provider some information from a doctor or nurse who is treating you.

REMEMBER, you never have to sign a medical release giving your housing provider permission to talk to your doctor or to get copies of your medical records.
Is your disability apparent?*

My disability and/or my need for an accommodation is apparent. I do not need to provide any additional documentation to make this request.My disability and/or my need for an accommodation is not apparent, meaning that the disability is not readily visible or obviously identifiable by the housing provider.
I understand that I should attach a signed letter, form, or other documentation from a doctor, therapist, social worker, or other qualified third party to verify my disability.
I agree
If the housing provider denies your request or if you have questions, please contact us at 419-243-6163.

In general, you should give the housing provider up to two weeks to respond to your request.*

MonthDay Year
Deadline

We have created a letter for you that you can send to the housing provider to request a reasonable modification.

When you click the Finish button below, your letter will be sent to the email you provided at the beginning. Please check your inbox for an email from JotForm.

Save and print this letter, and then sign it and send it to the housing provider.

The housing provider may grant your request, deny your request, or ask for more information.

Sometimes a housing provider may ask for a doctor’s note or other information relating to a request:

Sometimes your disability is visible and everyone knows you have a disability. For example, it’s clear that someone has a disability if they use a wheelchair or a walker to get around. In that case, the need for a handicapped parking space is also clear. In cases where your disability is obvious and the need for the change in policy is obvious, a housing provider does not need to get any information from your doctor before granting your request for a reasonable accommodation or modification.

Sometimes your disability is not visible or the reason you need a change in a rule is not obvious. In those cases, you may need to give your housing provider some information from a doctor or other qualified person who is treating you.

REMEMBER, you never have to sign a medical release giving your housing provider permission to talk to your doctor or to get copies of your medical records.
Is your disability apparent?*

My disability and/or my need for modification is apparent. I do not need to provide any additional documentation to make this request.My disability and/or my need for a modification is not apparent, meaning that the disability is not readily visible or obviously identifiable by the housing provider.
I understand that I should attach a signed letter, form, or other documentation from a doctor, therapist, social worker, or other qualified third party to verify my disability.
I agree
If the housing provider denies your request or if you have questions, please contact us at 419-243-6163.
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Interactive Self-Help Guide for Requesting a Reasonable Accommodation or Reasonable Modification

Privacy Policy

General Terms of Use

Your Own Contact Information (not that of the person you are assisting)

Your Client’s Contact Information

Your Client’s Landlord or Property Manager’s Contact Information

Your Contact Information

Your Landlord or Property Manager’s Contact Information