
Welcome to the Epic Master List of Disability Accommodation Letters!
These letters have been shared by brilliant and kind-hearted readers who wanted to help make life a little easier for others who are low income and disabled. This page includes letters from people with disabilities, as well as letters from family members writing on behalf of their disabled children or loved ones. Letters from doctor’s and providers are also included.
Below you will find letters for private landlords, plus letters for HUD, Section 8, Vouchers, USDA Rural Rental Assistance, Public Housing, and other Low-income Housing programs. If you are looking for employment accommodations: Sample Letter for Workplace Accommodation
What’s In This Guide?
The Basics
Paperwork
“I Can’t Go to Housing Office”
Applying
Getting Approved
Troubleshooting
Household
Adding Bedrooms
Landlords
Transferring Apartments or Buildings
Building or Apartment Modifications / Renovations
Vouchers
Longer Search Time / Voucher Extension
Complete Guide to Finding a New Landlord
Higher Voucher / Exception to Payment Standard
Rent from Relative / Relative as Landlord
Lowering Rent
All Situations
For Domestic Violence Survivors
Top Ten Most Popular Accommodations
HOW TO MAKE AN ACCOMMODATION REQUEST
Definition of Disability
- Definition of Disability (For Reasonable Accommodations)
- Definition of Disability (For Medical Expense Deductions)
- Definition of Disability (For Waiting Lists and Applications)
- Is Drug and Alcohol Addiction a Disability?
- Mental Health Qualifies!
- Accommodations for Domestic Violence Survivors
How to Guides
- How to Request Accommodations
- How to Make Sure Your Request is Disability-Related
- If They Insist You Use Their Form
- Accommodations for Multiple Chemical Sensitivities
- Keep Proof it Was Submitted
- What to Do if Someone Tells You No
- Lilac Seriously Upgrades Her Housing
- Complete Guide to Finding a Landlord
Good Letters
- Getting a Good Provider Letter
- Ellie’s Tips for Great Doctor’s Letters
- Mayflower’s Tale of Two Letters
- How Do I Describe My Disability?
Template Letters
Success Stories
Troubleshooting
- How to Get Help or File Complaints
- Eight Legal Reasons a Request Can Be Denied
- If You Don’t Get a Written Decision
- Can a Landlord Charge for My Accommodation?
- Where To Find a Case Worker to Help With Housing
Legal Guides
Laws and Policies
- HUD and DOJ Joint Statement on Accommodations
- HUD Policy on Reasonable Accommodations & Modifications
- HUD FAQ on Section 504
- HUD Housing Voucher Guidebook
Facebook Group
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WHAT TO DO IF YOUR REQUEST IS DENIED
How To Guides
- If Your Request is Denied
- If You Don’t Get a Written Decision
- If Your Request is Denied for No Reason
- How to Get Help or File Complaints
- Eight Legal Reasons a Request Can Be Denied
- If You Are Required To Use Their Forms
- If You are Charged Money for Your Accommodation
- Where To Find a Case Worker to Help With Housing
- What to Do if Someone Tells You No
- Liam’s Amazing Housing Discrimination Journey
Laws and Policies
- HUD and DOJ Joint Statement on Accommodations
- HUD Policy on Reasonable Accommodations & Modifications
- HUD FAQ on Section 504
- Laws on Assessing civil penalties for Fair Housing Act cases
- HUD Housing Voucher Guidebook
Facebook Group
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DEADLINE EXTENSIONS
If your disability makes it difficult to complete paperwork or attend meetings, you can request an accommodation for a deadline extension. This can be a one-time request, or a request for ongoing extensions for all paperwork.
If you are looking for an extension on time to find a landlord with your voucher, look here instead: Request for Voucher Extension
Sample Letters
Provider Letters
Guides
- How to Request Accommodations
- If Your Request is Denied
- For Domestic Violence Survivors
- Complete Guide to Finding a Landlord
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REINSTATEMENT ON WAITING LIST
If your disability or symptoms led to you to be taken off a wait list, you may be able to request reinstatement back on the list. Reinstatement should be back to the spot you would be at if you had never been removed. Sometimes this means you will now be at the top.
Sample Letters
- Template Letter from You
- Shameka’s Letter to Get Back on Waiting List
- Follow Up Letter to Confirm Wait List Spot
Provider Letters
Guides
- Sweet Pea’s Reasons for Missing Deadlines
- How to Request Accommodations
- If Your Request is Denied
- For Domestic Violence Survivors
Success Story
Policies
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GETTING HOUSING BACK
If your disability or symptoms led to you lose your housing, you may be able to request to get your housing or voucher back. This is called “reinstatement.”
Sample Letters
Provider Letters
Get Help
Guides
Addressing Evictions
Please see our section on evictions. Even if you have already been evicted, you can still use these tools to have the eviction no longer count against you:
Special Circumstances: Meetings & Paperwork
If you lost your housing because of problems with deadlines or paperwork:
- Sweet Pea’s Reasons for Missing Deadlines
- Zanetta Gets Reinstated After Missed Paperwork
- Shameka Gets Reinstated After Missing Deadlines
- Shameka’s Doctor’s Letter
Special Circumstances: Domestic Violence and Stalking
If you or someone in your family is a victim of domestic violence, dating violence or stalking. Protects all genders:
- Guide For Domestic Violence Survivors
- Domestic Violence: Know Your Rights
- Rights of Survivors in Subsidized Housing
- Letter Requesting Housing Back After Giving it Up
Special Circumstances: Drugs & Alcohol
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SKIP MEETINGS / MEETINGS FROM HOME
If your disabilities make it difficult for you to attend meetings in person, you can request a reasonable accommodation to complete housing meetings and paperwork from home. Some housing programs will grant this accommodation easily if you just ask. Others will require a more formal process.
The examples below are for housing. However, these exact same letters could be used for any other kind of service or program.
Sample Letters
- Sample Letter for Meetings by Phone, Mail, or Email
- Sample Letter for Meetings by Mail or Email (No Phone)
Provider Letters
Some housing programs don’t require a verification for this request. If they do:
- Template Letter from Provider
- Sunflower’s Letter for Phone, Mail or Email
- Azalea’s Letter for Home Visit
- Mayflower’s Letter for Mail or Email
- This Guidebook Has an Excellent Sample Letter in Appendix
Guide
- How to Make a Request to Skip Meetings
- Examples of Reasons for Not Attending Meetings
- If Your Request is Denied
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STOPPING EVICTIONS
If you received an eviction notice, please contact your local and state legal aide, disability rights, and tenant rights programs to ask for help. If there was a problem caused by your disability (or your child’s disability) you may be able to request an accommodation to prevent eviction. It will help if you can show that the problem has now been resolved.
Get Help
Sample Letters
- Letter Requesting to Stop Eviction
- Letter Requesting More Time
- Template Letter from You
- Calla’s Letter to Stop Eviction
Provider Letters
How to Guides
- Four Examples of Stopping an Eviction
- Drug Addiction, Alcohol Use & Medical Marijuana
- How to Request Accommodations
- If Your Request is Denied
Legal Guides
- Using The Fair Housing Act to Prevent Eviction
- Using Accommodations to Prevent Eviction
- Court Case Stopping Eviction Due to Tenant Behavior
Special Circumstances: Meetings & Paperwork
If your evictions is because of problems with deadlines or paperwork:
- Sweet Pea’s Reasons for Missing Deadlines
- Zanetta Gets Reinstated After Missed Paperwork
- Shameka Gets Reinstated After Missing Deadlines
- Shameka’s Doctor’s Letter
Special Protections: Domestic Violence and Stalking
If you or someone in your family is a victim of domestic violence, dating violence or stalking. Protects all genders:
- Guide For Domestic Violence Survivors
- Domestic Violence: Know Your Rights
- Rights of Survivors in Subsidized Housing
Special Assistance: When a HUD Building Relocates Tenants
If you are being displaced because your building is being sold or renovated. For public housing and subsidized low-income housing:
ADDITIONAL BEDROOMS
If your disability or symptoms create a need for an additional bedroom, you may be able to request an accommodation for this. You can also make this request for a disabled child or other family member. The most common reasons for this request are storage and use of medical equipment, and space for physical therapy, occupational therapy, and other at-home therapies.
Sample Letters from You
- Template Letter from You
- Request for Physical Therapy Room
- Patient Letter for Exercise and Mobility Equipment
Provider Letters
- Template Letter from Provider
- Doctor Letter for Exercise and Mobility Equipment
- Doctor letter for medical supplies plus computer space
Guides
- How to Request Accommodations
- Five Requests for Additional Bedrooms
- Why Can’t Equipment Be In Another Part of the House
Frequently Asked Questions
Success Story
Troubleshooting
- Issues with Sleeping in Living Room
- Examples of Not Sleeping In Living Room
- If Your Request is Denied
Resources
- How I Got Physical & Occupational Therapy at Home
- How to Get Medical Equipment
- Bedrooms For Live in Aides
- Bedrooms for Sleeping/Privacy
- Complete Guide to Finding a Landlord
Laws & Policies
Other Accommodations
In some cases, you may also need to make a:
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SEPARATE BEDROOM / PRIVATE BEDROOM
If you are sharing a bedroom, and your disability or symptoms create a need for a separate private bedroom, you may be able to request an accommodation for this. You can also make this request for a disabled child or other family member.
Sample Letters
- Template Letter from You
- Ash’s Letter for Separate Bedroom
- Chestnut’s Letter for Separate Bedroom
- Douglas Fir’s Letter for Separate Bedroom
- Birch’s Letter for Separate Bedroom
- Mayflower’s Letter for Separate Bedroom
Provider Letters
Guides
- Delphinium’s Guide to Separate Bedrooms
- How to Request Accommodations
- Five Requests for Additional Bedrooms
- Bedrooms For Live in Aides
- Complete Guide to Finding a Landlord
Frequently Asked Questions
Success Stories
- Mayflower’s Request: A Tale of Two Letters
- Summer Gets Her Own Bedroom
- Allysum’s Four Children Get Bedrooms
- Phylicia’s Extra Bedroom for a Child with Autism
Other Accommodations
In some cases, you may also need to make a:
Troubleshooting
- Issues with Sleeping in Living Room
- Examples of Reasons Someone Cannot Sleep In Living Room
- If Your Request is Denied
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HIGHER PAYMENT STANDARD (VOUCHERS)
If you are unable to find housing that suits your disability needs, you may be able to make a request for a higher voucher. This is called “exception to payment standard” or “going over payment standard.”
This request can be made for a new apartment you have not moved into yet. You can also make this request for a place where you are already living, if the rent is above payment standard and this is causing your portion of rent to be too high.
Sample Letters
- Template Letter from You
- Chrysanthemum’s Letter
- Azalea’s Letter
- Allysum’s Letter
- Dahlia’s Letter
- Hibiscus’ Letter
Provider Letters
- Template Letter from Provider
- Camellia’s Doctor’s Letter
- Azalea’s Doctor’s Letter
- Dahlia’s Doctor Letter
- Hibiscus’ Doctors Letter
Sample Attachment
How to Guides
- Margaret’s Guide to Higher Payment Standards
- Examples of Disability Housing Needs
- Readers Describe Their Housing Needs
- 5 Documents to Include in Your Request
- Can I Submit the Request Before I Find a Place?
- Do I Need to Make This Request?
- How to Request Accommodations
- If Your Request is Denied
- Complete Guide to Finding a New Home
Success Stories
- Chrysanthemum Gets Bad News and Good News
- Raymond Keeps His Home
- Allysum’s Family Gets a Home They Love
- Lilac Seriously Upgrades Her Housing
Crunch the Numbers
- How Much Can I Request? Is There a Limit?
- How Do Payment Standards Work?
- Can I Go Over 120% Fair Market Rent?
- What’s “Rent Reasonableness”?
- If My Request is Approved, Who Pays for What?
Asking for a Bedroom Instead
If the apartment you want to rent has more bedrooms than the number of bedrooms on your voucher, instead of request a higher payment standard, you can request an additional bedroom. This will automatically raise the payments standard:
Policies & Laws
Resources
- Other Options for When the Rent is Too High
- How to Find a Landlord Who Will Take Your Housing Voucher
- What Happens if My Landlord Raises My Rent?
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RENT FROM RELATIVE (VOUCHERS)
In many cases, a Housing Authority will not allow you to use a voucher if the house is owned by a relative. If you are unable to find any other landlords offering housing that suits your disability needs, you may be able to request an accommodation.
Sample Letters
- Template Letter from You
- Template Letter from Provider
- Azalea’s Letter to Rent from Relative (Including Doctor’s Letter)
Guides
- 5 Documents to Include with Your Request
- Examples of Disability Housing Needs
- Readers Describe Their Housing Needs
- More Examples of Reasons to Rent from Relative
- How to Request Accommodations
- If Your Request is Denied
- Guide For Domestic Violence Survivors
Policy
- 9.1 of the HUD a policy on housing search and leasing “PIH program regulations: 24 CFR 982.306(d) permits leasing a unit from a relative when needed as a reasonableaccommodation” (Housing Voucher Program Guidebook: House Search and Leasing 9.1)”
Also Helpful
This request would be made the exact same way as a request for a higher payment standard. You can follow the same guidelines:
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LONGER SEARCH TIME (VOUCHERS)
If your disability or symptoms created difficulty with finding a landlord, you may be able to request additional voucher extensions. You can also make this request for a disabled child or other family member.
Sample Letters
- Template Letter from You
- Sample Letters for Requesting a Voucher Extension
- This Guidebook Has an Excellent Sample Letter in Appendix
Provider Letters
How to Guides
- My Housing Worker Said, “No More Extensions”
- Three Common Reasons for Getting Extension
- Examples of Reasons for Extension Requests
- How to Request Accommodations
- If Your Request is Denied
- “I Lost My Voucher Because I Couldn’t Find a Landlord”
- Complete Guide to Finding a New Home
Laws & Policies
Resources
- How to Find a Landlord With Your Housing Voucher
- How I Got Every Landlord in Town to Accept My Housing Voucher
- Sample Introduction Letter to Landlord
- How Do Payment Standards Work?
- How to Use Your Voucher When the Rent is Too High
- Low Income Tax Credit Buildings Always Accept Vouchers
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POLICY CHANGES
If your housing program has a policy that is causing problems for your disability or symptoms, you have a right to request an exception. You can request an exception to ANY policy. However, there are some exceptions the program won’t legally be able to approve.
Sample Letters
Provider Letters
Guide
Success Story
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CREDIT CHECK
If your disability or symptoms led to problems with your credit, you may be able to request an exception to credit check policies. You can also make this request if credit problems were related to disability needs for a disabled child or other family member.
Guides
- How to Request Disability Accommodations
- If Your Request is Denied
- How Tenant Selection Policies Work
- Complete Guide to Finding a New Home (vouchers)
- How I Got Around Landlord Requirements for Income 3x Rent
Sample Letters
Provider Letters
Court Case
Special Circumstances: Domestic Violence
If you are a survivor of domestic violence, dating violence, or stalking, you may be able to request that your credit history be overlooked based on VAWA laws. Available to all genders.
- Guide For Domestic Violence Survivors
- Domestic Violence: Know Your Rights
- Rights of Survivors in Subsidized Housing
- Examples of Poor Credit History and VAWA Protections
- More about VAWA Protections
Special protections: source of income laws
Some areas have specialized that will give you even more protections:
Related Requests
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CRIMINAL BACKGROUND CHECKS
If your disability or symptoms led to problems with your background check, you may be able to request an exception to background check policies. You can also make this request for a disabled child or other family member. This type of request is not always successful, but some people have had success.
Sample Letters
Provider Letters
Guides
- How to Request Accommodations
- If Your Request is Denied
- How Tenant Selection Policies Work
- Complete Guide to Finding a New Home with a Voucher
Court Cases
- Overturning denials based on criminal record
Special Circumstances: Domestic Violence and Stalking
If you or someone in your household is a victim of domestic violence, dating violence or stalking, and this led to a criminal background charge, there may be special protections. Protects all genders:
- Guide For Domestic Violence Survivors
- Domestic Violence: Know Your Rights
- Rights of Survivors in Subsidized Housing
- Examples of Evictions and VAWA Protections
- Examples of Criminal Background and VAWA Protections
- Examples of Unpaid Rent and VAWA Protections
- More about VAWA Protections
Related Requests
Other Options: Expungement
In some cases, it is possible to get a criminal charge or conviction expunged (sealed so it cannot be seen). Some areas offer free legal assistance with expungement to prevent homelessness. Contact legal aide and law clinics in your area.
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ASSISTANCE ANIMALS
If your doctor has prescribed an assistance animal, you may request an exception to “no pet” policies and pet fees. You can also make this request for a disabled child or other family member.
Guides
- Rosemary’s Guide to Emotional Support Animals
- Does My Landlord Have to Accept My Animal?
- Should I Purchase a Letter Online?
- Biggest Problems with Online Info About ESAs
Sample Letter
- Letter to Landlord: “No Pets” or “One Pet”
- Letter to Landlord: “Pet Fees” or “Pet Deposits”
- Sample Letter for Medical Expense Deduction
Provider Letter (Doctor, Psychiatrist, Counselor, Therapist)
- Sample Doctor’s Letter for Housing
- Sample Doctor’s Letter for Airline
- Sample letter plus info on mental health rights
- Lilac’s Doctor Letter for Two Cats
- Summer’s Doctor Letter for Bird and Dog
- Lilac Seriously Upgrades
Support Animals are Different Than Service Animals
Laws & Policies
Back To Top
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LIVE IN AIDES
If you and your doctor feel that you are in need of a live-in aide to assist you with care because of your disability, you may request that someone be added to your housing as an aide. You can also make this request for a disabled child or other family member.
How to Guides
- Three Different Ways to Get Home Aides
- Who Can Be My Live In Aide?
- If You are Applying for Wait Lists
- How Do Bedrooms Work For Aides?
Making the Request
- How to Request a Live-In Aide
- How to Fill Out Live in Aide Forms
- Unreasonable Live In Aide Forms
- How to Request Accommodations
- If Your Request is Denied
Sample Forms
Start by asking your housing program for a live in aide request forms. Many programs have their own special forms for this. Here’s a few examples:
Success Story
Laws and Policies
- How to Request an Exception to Live in Aide Policies
- New Changes to Live-In Aide Policies
- Voucher Guidebook – Housing Search & Leasing
- HUD Occupancy Handbook
Other Accommodations
You may also need to make a:
Most housing programs automatically grant an additional bedroom. If not:
Plan B: Developmental Disabilities
Applying for a live-in aide is simplest. However, some people do not qualify to be aides. If this is true for your family, there is another type of request you can make for homecare income to be excluded. For people with developmental disabilities (autism, brain injury, cerebral palsy, down syndrome, spina bifida, intellectual disability, etc)
- How to Exclude Income from IHSS and Medicaid Homecare
- Sample Letter for Caregiver for Developmental Disabilities
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APPLY FROM HOME
If your disabilities make it too difficult to apply in person, you can request a reasonable accommodation to complete the application process from home. You can also make this request if you are caring for a disabled child or family member and this prevents you from applying in person.
Many housing programs are already set up to accept initial applications by mail, email or online, so no request would be needed at the beginning. However, when you reach the top of the waiting list, they will ask you to come in. You can put in an accommodation request at any point.
Tip: Completing the entire application from home can be difficult. It is usually easier to go apply in person if you are at all able.
Sample Letters
- Sunflower’s Letter to Apply from Home
- Sample Letter to Apply by Phone, Mail, or Email
- Sample Letter to Apply by Mail or Email (No Phone)
Provider Letters
Some housing programs don’t require a verification for this request. If they do:
- Template Letter from Provider
- Sunflower’s Letter for Phone, Mail or Email
- Azalea’s Letter for a Home Visit
- Mayflower’s Letter for Mail or Email
- This Guidebook Has an Excellent Sample Letter in Appendix
Guide
- Examples of Reasons for Being Unable to Attend Meetings
- How to Make a Request to Skip Meetings or Apply from Home
- If Your Request is Denied
Success Story
Resources
- How to Find Open Waiting Lists
- Can I Apply if I Live in Another State?
- Three Magic Questions When Calling Buildings
- How to Apply (And every little thing that happens along the way)
- Important Things to Do After You Get on a Wait List
- Complete Guide to Finding a Landlord
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PARKING
Sample Letters
- Template Letter for Housing Program
- Sample Letter to Private Landlord
- Sample Letter: Parking Spot
- Delphinium’s Letter for a New Parking Spot
- Request No Fees for This Accommodation
Provider Letters
A provider letter should may be necessary for this request. Instead, you can provide a copy of your disability parking placard. This can verify your need for an accessible disability parking space.
Guides
Laws & Policies
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GETTING VOUCHER BACK
If your disability or symptoms led to you lose your voucher, you may be able to request to get your housing or voucher back. This is called “reinstatement.”
Sample Letters
Provider Letters
Get Help
Guides
- How to Request Accommodations
- If Your Request is Denied
- Complete Guide to Finding a New Home with a Voucher
Addressing Evictions
Please see our section on evictions. Even if you have already been evicted, you can still use these tools to have the eviction no longer count against you:
Special Circumstances: Ran Out of Time to Find Landlord
- Reasons for Reinstatement After Running Out of Time
- “I Lost My Voucher Because I Couldn’t Find a Landlord”
Special Circumstances: Evictions
Special Circumstances: Domestic Violence and Stalking
If you or someone in your family is a victim of domestic violence, dating violence or stalking. Protects all genders:
- Guide For Domestic Violence Survivors
- Domestic Violence: Know Your Rights
- Rights of Survivors in Subsidized Housing
- Letter Requesting Voucher Back After Giving it Up
Special Circumstances: Meetings & Paperwork
If you lost your voucher because or problems with deadlines or paperwork:
- Sweet Pea’s Reasons for Missing Deadlines
- Zanetta Gets Reinstated After Missed Paperwork
- Shameka Gets Reinstated After Missing Deadlines
- Shameka’s Doctor’s Letter
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RENTING A ROOM OR LIVING WITH OTHER PEOPLE
There are several different ways you can live with other people while using your housing voucher. Some are disability accommodations, and others anyone can do:
- Live Somewhere Where They Allow a Room Rental
- Disability Accommodation for a Room Rental
- Add Someone to Your Voucher
- Disability Accommodation to Add Someone
- Disability Accommodation for Live In Aide
- Apply together
- Get Two Apartments
- Get Two Vouchers
- Rent a Room in a Family Member’s House
- Rent Multiple Rooms in a Shared House
- Move Somewhere with More Flexible Policies
Sample Letters
Provider Letters
Guides
- How to Use Your Voucher to Live With Other People
- Complete Guide to Finding a New Home with a Voucher
- How to Request Accommodations
- If Your Request is Denied
Renting a Room
If you are trying to rent a room in a house (instead of a whole apartment to yourself) you will need to show why this particular arrangement and living space is the best or only one possible for you. Here’s some examples that may be helpful:
- Examples of Disability Housing Needs
- Readers Describe Their Housing Needs
- More Examples of Reasons to Rent from Relative
- How to Use Your Housing Voucher to Rent a Room in a House
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HOME OR BUILDING MODIFICATIONS
Sample Letters
Provider Letters
Guides
- Equal Virginia Guide on Requesting Modifications
- What is a reasonable modification?
- What should I know if I encounter inaccessible housing due to the design and construction of the building or unit?
- How to Request Accommodations
- Who Pays for Home Modifications?
Stories
Policies
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PORTING/MOVING (VOUCHERS)
If you have a housing voucher and want to move to another state or another area, this is called “porting.” If your request for porting has been turned down, you are allowed to make an accommodation request if your port is needed for disability or medical reasons. You may be able to request an exception to porting policies if you have been told:
- “We can’t afford to let you port to that area”
- “We are not allowing any ports at this time”
- “You have to wait til your lease is up”
- “You have to live here for 12 months first” (Note: This last request may not always be approved).
Sample Letters
- Template Letter from You
- Sample Letter for Porting Exception
- Alder’s Porting Letter
- Hibiscus’ Porting Letter
- Courtney’s Porting Letter
Provider Letters
- Template Letter from Provider
- Sundew’s Doctor Letter
- Hibiscus’ Doctor Letter
- Courtney’s Doctor Letter (scroll down)
- Ellie’s Doctor Letter
Resources
Guides
- Porting New Vouchers Without Waiting 12 Months
- “My Housing Worker Says The Port Costs Too Much”
- How to Request Disability Accommodations
- If Your Request is Denied
- Complete Guide to Finding a New Home with a Voucher
Laws and Policies
- Porting & Moving Disability Accommodations
- Federal Ruling on Streamlining the Portability Process
- HUD Notice on Family Moves with Continued Assistance
- HUD Housing Voucher Guidebook: Moves and Portability
Special Protections: Domestic Violence and Stalking
If you or someone in your family is a victim of domestic violence, dating violence or stalking, you may be able to request exceptions to porting policies under a special law called VAWA. Protects all genders:
- Guide For Domestic Violence Survivors
- Survivors Have Rights to Move with a Voucher
- Domestic Violence: Know Your Rights
- Rights of Domestic Survivors in Public & Subsidized Housing
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TRANSFERRING BUILDINGS OR APARTMENTS
In some situations, you can request to your landlord to transfer apartments to meet your disability needs.
When you can request:
- Apartment with different location
- Apartment with different features
- Larger apartment (after you have been approved for an additional bedroom)
What you can request:
- Transferring different apartment in same building
- Transferring to a different building owned by the same landlord
- No fees for transferring
- Bypassing the waiting list (Priority over new applicants, not over existing tenants who have also made disability requests)
Sample Letters
Provider Letters
Guides
- How to Request Accommodations
- If Your Request is Denied
- Examples of Disability Housing Needs
- Readers Describe Their Housing Needs
- Request No Fees for This Accommodation
Stories
Policies
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MEDICAL EXPENSE DEDUCTIONS
If someone in your house is elderly or disabled, you may be eligible for medical expense deductions from your rent.
Guides
- Five Important Tips About Medical Deductions
- How to Document Medical Expenses
- What Counts as a Medical Expense?
- How Much Will Rent Go Down? Is it Worth It?
- Do I Qualify? Do My Kids Qualify?
- Am I Disabled?
- Warning: Medical Marijuana Can Cause Problems
Sample Letters
Sample Attachments
- Rosemary’s Medical Expenses Budget
- Doctor’s Form to Verify Medical Expenses
- Doctor’s Letter for Emotional Support Animal
Policies
Don’t Qualify?
Some families don’t qualify for medical expense deductions. If you don’t qualify for medical expense deductions, look at:
Resources
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PAYING RENT LATE
If your disability check arrives after the date rent is due, you can make an accommodation request to pay your rent late each month without a late fee. In some situations, you may be able to make an accommodation request to pay rent late for other disability-related reasons.
Sample Letters
Provider Letters
While most accommodations need a letter from a doctor or provider, this request is a little different. It might be more appropriate to instead enclose documentation showing that: your income is from disability and your disability check is deposited on a specific date each month. For example: Bank statements showing deposit date, plus any document you have stating that this is disability income.
Guides
Laws and Policies
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HIGHER UTILITY ALLOWANCE (VOUCHERS)
If your disability causes you to use more heat, cooling, water, or electricity, you can make a request for a higher utility allowance. You can also request this on behalf of a child or other family member. If you pay your own utilities, your share of rent will go down. If landlord pays utilities, your share stays the same, but landlord may be able to raise rent without impact you.
Sample Letters
Provider Letters
Guides
- Examples of Requests for Higher Utility Allowance
- How to Request Accommodations
- If Your Request is Denied
- How Utility Allowances Work
Policies
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EARNED INCOME DISREGARD
If you are unemployed or working a small amount and you go back to work, there is a special rule that can keep your share of the rent from increasing. This rule can also apply to your children or other household members.
Vouchers and Supportive Housing (Disabled Only)
The person who returns to work must be disabled:
- About Earned Income Disregard
- Sample Letter Requesting Earned Income Disregard
- Sample Letter Appealing Earned Income Disregard
Public Housing (Anyone)
The person does NOT need to be disabled. Public Housing is a building owned by a Housing Authority:
Resources
Other Programs for Returning to Work
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FACEBOOK GROUP
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COMMUNICATION
Policies
- HUD Policy Effective Communication & Disabilities: “The Fair Housing Act makes it illegal for housing providers to refuse to make reasonable accommodations, including taking steps that may be necessary to ensure effective communications with individuals with disabilities.”
Guides
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BREAK LEASE EARLY
Ways to break a lease early:
One: Some leases have clauses allowing 30 or 60 day notice. Check your lease.
Two: Some states have laws letting you break lease early for specific reasons. Check your state laws.
Three: Some people make disability accommodation request to break lease without any fees or penalties. See below.
Four: Some people pay to get out of lease. Check with your landlord and research laws in your state to see what it will cost.
Five: Sometimes a landlord is just nice and will allow you to break the lease early if you ask nicely and have a good reason.
Six: Some people can break the lease early if they are a survivor of domestic violence. See links below.
Seven: If your lease does not allow you to terminate the lease with 30 or 60 day notice, you can make a disability accommodation request to have a clause like this added to the lease. See examples below.
Tip: If you have a voucher and you have been living at your current place for less than 12 months, you may need approval from both your landlord and housing your housing authority.
Sample Letters
- Template Letter from You
- Orchid’s Letter for Breaking Lease Early Without Penalty
- Tilia’s Letter to Break Lease Early without Penalties
Provider Letters
Guides
- How to Request Accommodations
- If Your Request is Denied
- Readers Describe Their Housing Needs
- Special Laws to Help Domestic Violence Survivors
- Complete Guide to Finding a New Home with a Voucher
Success Story
Fees
If you break your lease because you’ve been approved for a reasonable accommodation request, your landlord cannot charge you a fee for this. Even if the lease or the landlord’s policy typically charges a fee, they cannot charge a fee if it is a reasonable accommodation request. Your deposit should also be returned to you after you move out. However, the landlord can still remove any expenses for cleaning or damage. In addition, your landlord may require a reasonable amount of notice. If you leave without any notice, they may keep your deposit because this places an expense on them. Here’s a sample letter for asking for fees to be removed:
Resources
- Bazelon Guide: Lease Termination for Disabilities
- Court Case About Breaking Lease Early
- Article and Sample Letter Requesting Landlord Re-rent
State Laws:
You can request a reasonable accommodation in ALL STATES to break a lease early. It does not matter what state or local laws say about breaking a lease. Even if state laws say that you cannot break your lease, you can still make a reasonable accommodation request to break the lease based on the federal fair housing laws.
In addition, in some states, you may not even need to request a reasonable accommodation, because there are other laws that will allow you to break the lease. To find out more and learn if there are additional local laws that can help you: Contact Legal Aide & Fair Housing Groups in Your Area.
Here is a partial list of state laws. If your state is not on this list, you can look online to research the laws in your state. Remember, these are only the state laws and even if they don’t work in your favor, you can still make a disability accommodation request to break the lease if needed.
- Alabama
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- D.C.
- Florida
- Georgia
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Missouri
- Nevada
- New Jersey
- New York
- North Carolina
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- South Carolina
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Virginia
- Washington
- Wisconsin
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BUYING A HOUSE
In some cases, you may be able to use your voucher to buy a house. There are a few rules that can make it easier for people with disabilities:
Guides
- How to Buy a House Through Section 8
- Special Rules for People With Disabilities
- If Your Housing Program Doesn’t Offer Homeownership
Success Story
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OTHER LETTERS
Letter for ME or Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
- Camellia’s Doctor’s Letter for Disability Accommodation
- Sweet Pea’s Fantastic Letter for Disability Accommodation
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OVERLAPPING ASSISTANCE (VOUCHERS)
In some situations, you can request “overlapping assistance,” so that your new lease overlaps with your old one. This can make it easier to move (especially if you are disabled) and to find suitable housing.
For example: Jane’s new lease starts on Monday. Her old lease ends on Wednesday. If her voucher fully covers both leases, she has three days of overlapping assistance.
Sample Letters
Provider Letters
Guides
- Guide to Overlapping Assistance
- How to Request Accommodations
- If Your Request is Denied
- Complete Guide to Finding a New Home with a Voucher
- Lilac Seriously Upgrades
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OVERNIGHT GUESTS
Most landlords and many housing programs have restrictions on how many nights your can guests stay overnight with you. If you or someone in your household is disabled, you may be able to request an exception to these guest policies.
Sample Letters
Provider Letters
Guides
- Guide to Accommodations for Overnight Guests
- How to Request Accommodations
- If Your Request is Denied
Resources
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PAST EVICTIONS & PAST LANDLORD REFERENCES
If your disability or symptoms led to an eviction or problems with a landlord reference, you may be able to request an exception to background check policies. You can also make this request for a disabled child or other family member. This type of request is not always successful, but some people have had success.
If you have a current eviction notice, look here: Stopping Evictions
Sample Letters
- Letter About Poor Landlord Reference
- Letter Requesting Not Contacting Past Landlord
- Template Letter for All Requests
- Calla’s Letter to Stop Eviction
Provider Letters
Guides
- How to Request Accommodations
- Examples of Reasons for Exceptions on Past Evictions
- If Your Request is Denied
- Complete Guide to Finding a New Home with a Voucher
Special Circumstances: Domestic Violence and Stalking
If you or someone in your family is a victim of domestic violence, dating violence or stalking. Protects all genders:
- Domestic Violence: Know Your Rights
- Rights of Survivors in Subsidized Housing
- Examples of Evictions and VAWA Protections
- Examples of Criminal Background and VAWA Protections
- Examples of Unpaid Rent and VAWA Protections
- More about VAWA Protections
Special Circumstances: Meetings & Paperwork
If you lost your housing or housing assistance because or problems with deadlines or paperwork:
- Sweet Pea’s Reasons for Missing Deadlines
- Zanetta Gets Reinstated After Missed Paperwork
- Shameka Gets Reinstated After Missing Deadlines
- Shameka’s Doctor’s Letter
Related Requests
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FINDING A LANDLORD TO TAKE YOUR VOUCHER
Many voucher holders have difficulty finding a landlord who is willing to accept a voucher. Here are some tools and tips that can help:
Getting Extensions
Source of Income Laws
Some areas have special laws that require landlords to accept vouchers. If you live in one of these areas, you still may need to take special steps to get a landlord to approve you:
- How I Got Every Landlord in Town to Accept My Housing Voucher
- How I Got Around Landlord Requirements for Income 3x Rent
- How Tenant Selection Policies Work
- Lilac Seriously Upgrades
Disability Accommodations That Can Help
- Rent a Place Owned by a Relative
- Request a Longer Search Time
- Get Voucher Back If Ran Out of Time
- Solve Problems with Background Checks
- Solve Problems with Credit Checks
- Assistance Animals in Buildings with “No Pet” policies
- Request a Higher Voucher
Tools For Searching
November 2, 2021
Hi, will someone contact me please? I am disabled and a victim of housing discrimination. The landlord called the police and had me removed and I almost ended up homeless and with a record that I do not deserve. The negative implications are long-lasting and will continue to effect down the line for a very long time. I am currently being evicted even the charges have been dropped because the landlord a false police report in order to have solid evidence to evict me. I have had no help and have exhausted the non-profit agencies which make one excuse or another and do not help me. I need advocacy and have made requests from social workers, case managers, and other agencies and yet have not received any help. Not even with simple legal proceeding in my eviction hearings. Everything I have been through due the property management’s misconduct is shocking appalling. People have no empathy. I currently need help like I said but for right now, I need help with my discrimination complaint with HUD. My case is being mishandled and I need a letter to articulate all the occurences of discrimination while a tenant in these apartments. Please contact as soon as possible. I would greatly appreciate it. Thank-you.
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I’m sorry you are in this situation. Here’s where you can contact to file a complaint or to get help: https://howtogeton.wordpress.com/get-help-or-file-complaints-for-hud-housing-problems-disability/
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Thanks for the answer. I asked because my mother’s psychiatrist was contacted by the HUD to verify her disability and the need for reasonable accommodation, but the psychiatrist said they do not do housing accommodation requests. My mother does not know who else to go to now because the person who knows about her mental health refused to get involved. Her primary practitioner does not know about her mental health diagnoses. Is it really not okay to write a letter stating that we choose to voluntarily disclose her medical records?
Also, are we allowed to contact her former social worker to verify a disability? or does it have to be a current social worker?
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They aren’t going to ask for her medical records, so it’s not necessary to write a letter about it. Her medical records would not be helpful in anyway.
A former social worker sounds like a good idea.
If her current doctor is kind and compassionate, you could go with her to the appointment and explain her mental health issues. Maybe he would be willing to fill out the form for you.
If you make it easier for the doctor, they are a lot more likely to do it. Before you get there, get a copy of the form and bring it with you. Then try writing down a list of exactly what information you would like to go on the form. A lot of doctors are more likely to fill out a form then they will be to take the time to write a letter. If you can sit with him during the office visit and he can fill it out in the moment maybe he will be willing to help. I hope it goes well.
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Hello, would my mom still need a doctor’s letter to request a reasonable accommodation if she’s already on SSI after being diagnosed with PTSD/Generalized Anxiety Disorder? or should medical records be fine combined with a self-written letter describing why she needs reasonable accommodation?
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It depends on the accommodation. If it’s something very small and simple, like someone wants to email instead of using the telephone, it’s usually not necessary to have a doctors letter.
For most accommodations, a doctor would need to write specifically about this accommodation and why it is needed. Instead of a doctor, it could also be a social worker or case worker or other practitioner.
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P,s. It is really never a good idea to send medical records. Medical records are confidential and really wouldn’t typically go to a landlord.
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Any suggestions on a Reasonable Accommodation for a child with depression? Rent is high in my area and we found a place that allows pets (landlords are saying no pets including service animals 😦 ), but the rent is to high. Also, the new place is near a support person on my daughters safety plan. Any suggestions? She is currently receiving intensive outpatient treatment services for depression.
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The landlord cannot refuse your service animal. It doesn’t matter what they say. Just submit the written letter from your doctor. Service animals are not pets
I’m not sure what Accommodations to suggest. If you have a housing voucher, you can request additional bedrooms or exception to payment standard if you need to find a more expensive place to accommodate a child with disabilities. Extra bedrooms are also possible in certain types of subsidized apartments.
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Too bad this isn’t in PDF as an internet-free executable.
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Does anyone have any experience asking for a unit with more bathrooms. There are only 2 places in my entire area with 2 bathrooms to meet my needs bc of a GI disability. They all have 3-bedrooms. I’ve been allowed 2 bedrooms because of my medical equipment but they won’t allow me that third bedroom to make sure I can have the 2 baths I need. I’m looking for anyone who has been successful getting this accommodation.
@fattieart
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A few people have gotten an accommodation for an exception to payment standards in order to Pay for a place with an additional bathroom. See the section on “exception to payment standard“ above.
The number of bedrooms doesn’t matter in this case, You will still have a two bedroom voucher, but the amount of the voucher will go up to be able to afford a more expensive place that has an additional bathroom. You would need to show proof that there are no two bedroom apartment with two bathrooms. You will lo need a doctors letter stating that it is medically necessary for you to have two bathrooms.
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Wonderful post, love the way you explain things. Cetainly will give this a share to
one of my instagram groups.
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Thank you 🏵️ 🌼💛
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Thank you soooo much for all of this! ❤❤❤
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Any suggestions for how to ask that maintenance come within a given window? If I make a maintenance request I have to give them permission to come anytime during business hours in the next 2 weeks. This is too big of a window for me, but I don’t know how to explain that I need a more specific window.
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Hi Jan,
Is there a reason related to your disabilities why you need a shorter time window?
(I realize that common decency should be a good enough reason, but sadly is not) 🙂
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It’s hard to explain. It’s hard for me to have an expectation of “something happening” that carries on so long. It’s exhausting when I am waiting for a thing to happen.
Or I might forget.
Also I tend to not dress if I don’t have a specific reason, but stay in my PJ’s, and I might be showering at a time of day when I have the most energy, which might be afternoon (and they would come right in if I didn’t answer the door).
I am not sure how much of that I want to actually write on a form and give to my housing manager.
But like you said, I think just out of common decency, they should have a more reasonable rule for everyone. Even the cable company can give a 4 or 6 hour window, and nobody thinks the cable company has particularly great service.
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Ok, those all seem like good reasons to me 🙂 .
Do you have a provider or case worker willing to write you a letter? Perhaps you could talk the reasons over with your provider without needing to disclose this level of detail to housing manager?
You could submit a letter from yourself and/or from your provider.
Maybe the letter could state that you are requesting that non-emergency maintenance projects be scheduled at specific days and times. You are requesting this accommodation because unscheduled maintenance visits worsen your disability symptoms, and interfere with your ability to function and perform self-care.
What do you think?
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That sounds a lot better. Thanks for helping me with this.
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Hope it goes great. Come back and let us know how it goes. 🏵️ 🌼💛
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Although I should say that the low-income plan for internet (from the cable company) is great and that it comes with some cool services (like installation and equipment, as well as coding class and antimalware protection).
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I have been searching for a site like this!! Thank you so much for putting this together ❤️
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Hope it helps 🏵️ 🌼💛
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THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR HARD WORK!
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Always beautiful artwork, Thank You!🎨🖌️😊
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Thank you ❤
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Yyyyyaaaaaa
THANK YOU for ALL YOU DO for everyone! 💚🌻💚
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