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NOTICE AND DISCLOSURE OF TENANTS' RIGHTS TO REASONABLE
ACCOMMODATIONS FOR PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES¹

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 or your landlord.

You will need to show 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 information, when necessary, to demonstrate that there is a covered disability and that the need for the accommodation is related to the disability.

Specifically, if you have a physical, mental, or medical disability, you can request:

  • Permission to change the interior of your housing unit to make it accessible (however, you are required to pay for requested 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);
  • Exceptions to your housing provider’s rules, policies, practices or services;
  • Changes to common areas of the building so that 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 by persons with disabilities 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.

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¹ 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 herein.

  • If your doctor provides documentation stating 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 to 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 you need notices to be made available to you electronically, you can request that accommodation from your landlord.

Reasonable 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.
  • 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

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.

A complaint must be filed with the Division of Human Rights within one year of the alleged discriminatory act. You can find more information on your rights, and on the procedures for filing a complaint at www.dhr.ny.gov, or by calling 1-888-392-3644 with questions about your rights. 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 then Division of Human Rights website.

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