---
title: "What Is Reasonable accommodation? Landlord and Renter Glossary"
description: "A reasonable accommodation is a change to a rule or policy that lets a person with a disability use and enjoy a home on an equal basis with others."
url: https://realpmgold.multisites.ai/glossary/reasonable-accommodation
publisher: Real Property Management Gold
phone: +1-301-392-2172
assessment: https://realpmgold.multisites.ai/contact-us#assessment
---

Screening

# Reasonable accommodation

A reasonable accommodation is a change to a rule or policy that lets a person with a disability use and enjoy a home on an equal basis with others.

Under the Fair Housing Act, it is unlawful to refuse reasonable accommodations in rules, policies, practices or services when they may be necessary to give a person with a disability an equal opportunity to use and enjoy a home. HUD and the Department of Justice call it a change, exception or adjustment to a rule, policy, practice or service.

Examples from HUD include a "no pets" building that must allow a visually impaired tenant to keep a guide dog. Another is a reserved parking space for a tenant with a mobility impairment. A request does not have to use special words. It is enough that the person makes clear they want an exception because of a disability.

An accommodation is different from a modification. A modification is a change to the home itself, which HUD says a tenant may make at their own expense. Treat each request on its own facts, respond promptly and in writing, and keep records. Related issues come up with [assistance animals](https://realpmgold.multisites.ai/glossary/assistance-animal) and in the [Fair Housing Act](https://realpmgold.multisites.ai/glossary/fair-housing-act) generally.

This page is general information, not legal advice. Laws change; check the linked official source or talk to a Maryland attorney.

[Read nextTenant Screening in Maryland: What the Law Allows and How We Screen](https://realpmgold.multisites.ai/landlord-center/tenant-screening)

## Related terms

-   [Assistance animal](https://realpmgold.multisites.ai/glossary/assistance-animal)
-   [Fair Housing Act](https://realpmgold.multisites.ai/glossary/fair-housing-act)
-   [Fair Chance Housing Act](https://realpmgold.multisites.ai/glossary/fair-chance-housing-act)

## Sources

1.  [U.S. Department of Justice: Joint Statement of the Department of Justice and the Department of Housing and Urban Development](https://www.justice.gov/crt/joint-statement-department-justice-and-department-housing-and-urban-development)
2.  [HUD: Fair Housing, Equal Opportunity for All](https://www.hud.gov/sites/documents/fheo_booklet_eng.pdf)
3.  [HUD: Fair Housing, Equal Opportunity for All](https://www.hud.gov/sites/documents/fheo_booklet_eng.pdf)
4.  [HUD: Fair Housing, Equal Opportunity for All](https://www.hud.gov/sites/documents/fheo_booklet_eng.pdf)
5.  [U.S. Department of Justice: HUD and DOJ Joint Statement on Reasonable Accommodations](https://www.justice.gov/crt/us-department-housing-and-urban-development)

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