HUD Handbook 4350.3 § 2-42

A.        Generally, owners subject to Section 504 requirements must make and pay for
                 structural modifications to dwelling units and common areas when needed as a
                 reasonable accommodation based on a request by a tenant or applicant with a
                 disability

                 NOTE: Alterations and structural changes must be made in conformance with
                 paragraph 2-36 A, Building Standards.

       B.        If the owner provides a reasonable accommodation by making a requested
                 structural modification to a unit, this does not mean that the unit can
                 automatically be counted as a fully accessible unit that meets the UFAS
                 standard, unless the modifications made by the owner actually bring the unit into
                 compliance with that standard.

6/07                                             2-38                          HUD Occupancy Handbook
                                                                               Chapter 2: Civil Rights and
                                                                           Nondiscrimination Requirements

Requirements for Persons with Disabilities

Subsection 4:
Reasonable Accomodations

Example – When Owners Must Make Reasonable Accommodations

 An owner has a policy of updating its waiting list by sending out letters to applicants to see if they are
 still interested in being on the waiting list. If a person does not respond within a certain amount of time,
 the owner removes the individual from the waiting list. Because of an individual’s disability, he is
 unable to understand the nature of this communication and therefore does not respond to the letter. If
 requested, the owner would have to reinstate the person to the original place on the waiting list as a
 reasonable accommodation to that individual’s disability.

 An owner that does not allow residents to have animals must modify the property’s policies and allow a
 tenant with a disability to have an assistance animal if the animal is needed as a reasonable
 accommodation. (See paragraphs 2-44, **3-29** and 4-24 B for more information about assistance
 animals as a reasonable accommodation.)

 An owner has a policy of only sending rent notices and other documents to tenants. An applicant with a
 disability that periodically results in temporary memory loss requests as a reasonable accommodation
 that a copy of all rent notices and requests for information also be sent to a relative who lives in the
 community. The owner should modify this policy and send the notices to the designated individual in
 order to give the resident an equal opportunity to use her dwelling and comply with her lease
 obligations.

 An owner requires tenants to pay rent by personal check. One resident has a disability and is unable to
 manage a personal checking account. The owner must allow that resident’s request for an
 accommodation to pay rent in cash or by money order, as this is a reasonable adjustment to the
 property’s procedures that will allow this resident to have an equal opportunity to participate in the
 housing program.

Example – Requests for Reasonable Accommodations or Housing Adjustments
 An applicant who is hearing impaired has been determined to be otherwise qualified under program
 requirements and the owner’s tenant selection plan. The applicant asks that her unit be fitted with a
 visual smoke detector. The owner must accommodate the request unless it would result in undue
 financial and administrative burden. This limitation applies to all of the examples.
 An individual with a mobility impairment requests that grab bars be installed in the bathroom.
 A visually impaired tenant requests a name plate/unit number in Braille on mailbox.
 A hearing-impaired tenant requests visual intercom to know when guests have arrived and to receive
 notice that he has messages at the office. If owner already provides some type of intercom service to
 all tenants, he must accommodate this request. However, if the owner provides no such service, he
 can deny the request if he determines that it would represent a support service not provided by the
 project and providing this request would result in a fundamental alteration of the program.