Reasonable Accommodations
The New York State Human Rights Law requires housing providers to make reasonable
accommodations or modifications to a building or living space to meet the needs of people
with disabilities. For example, if you have a physical, mental, or medical impairment, you
can ask your housing provider to make the common areas of your building accessible, or to
change certain policies to meet your needs.
To request a reasonable accommodation, you should contact your property manager.
You will need to inform your housing provider that you have a disability or health problem
that interferes with your use of housing, and that your request for accommodation may be
necessary to provide you equal access and opportunity to use and enjoy your housing or
the amenities and services normally offered by your housing provider. A housing provider
may request medical information, when necessary to support that there is a covered
disability and that the need for the accommodation is disability related.
If you believe that you have been denied a reasonable accommodation for your disability,
or that you were denied housing or retaliated against because you requested a reasonable
accommodation, you can file a complaint with the New York State Division of Human Rights
as described at the end of this notice.
Specifically, if you have a physical, mental, or medical impairment, you can request:
Permission to change the interior of your housing unit to make it accessible (however, you
are required to pay for these modifications, and in the case of a rental your housing
provider may require that you restore the unit to its original condition when you move
out); Changes to your housing provider’s rules, policies, practices, or services; Changes to
common areas of the building so you have an equal opportunity to use the building.
The New York State Human Rights Law requires housing providers to pay for reasonable
modifications to common use areas.
Examples of reasonable modifications and accommodations that may be requested under
the New York State Human Rights Law include: If you have a mobility impairment, your
housing provider may be required to provide you with a ramp or other reasonable means
to permit you to enter and exit the building; If your healthcare provider provides
documentation that having an animal will assist with your disability, you should be
permitted to have the animal in your home despite a “no pet” rule; If you need grab bars in
your bathroom, you can request permission to install them at your own expense. If your
housing was built for first occupancy after March 13, 1991 and the walls need to be
reinforced for grab bars, your housing provider must pay for that to be done; If you have an
impairment that requires a parking space close to your unit, you can request your housing
provider to provide you with that parking space, or place you at the top of a waiting list if no
adjacent spot is available; If you have a visual impairment and require printed notices in an
alternative format such as large print font, or need notices to be made available to you electronically,
you can request that accommodation from your landlord.
Required Accessibility Standards
All buildings constructed for use after March 13, 1991, are required to meet the following
standards: Public and common areas must be readily accessible to and usable by persons
with disabilities; All doors must be sufficiently wide to allow passage by persons in
wheelchairs; and All multi-family buildings must contain accessible passageways, fixtures,
outlets, thermostats, bathrooms, and kitchens.
If you believe that your building does not meet the required accessibility standards, you
can file a complaint with the New York State Division of Human Rights.
How to File a Complaint
A complaint must be filed with the Division within one year of the alleged discriminatory
act or in court within three years of the alleged discriminatory act. You can find more
information on your rights, and on the procedures for filing a complaint, by going to
www.dhr.ny.gov, or by calling 1-888-392-3644. You can obtain a complaint form on the
website, or one can be e-mailed or mailed to you. You can also call or e-mail a Division
regional office. The regional offices are listed on the website.
———————————
This Notice provides information about your rights under the New York State Human
Rights Law, which applies to persons residing anywhere in New York State. Local laws may
provide protections in addition to those described.
​
​