Federal and state Fair Housing laws prohibit discrimination in housing practices based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, familial status, and disability. Fair housing laws that deal with the protected class of disability also protect you in the following ways. Generally, landlords cannot discriminate against you if:
- You have a history of disability.
- You currently have a disability.
- They assume you have a disability. If the landlord treats you differently because they assume you have a disability, then fair housing laws protect you even if you do not actually have that disability.
Landlords are not allowed to ask you to identify your disability; however, if you are asking for a policy or physical change to the home, they can ask for documentation that you have a disability that would need this policy or physical change to the home. This documentation would be from a qualified third-party professional, such as:
- a doctor,
- counselor,
- social worker,
- therapist,
- clinician,
- self-help group,
- service agency,
- rehabilitation center,
- clinic, or
- peer mentor.
Qualified Third Party Letter Template
Date
To Whom It May Concern,
I, _________________________________________ (name of professional person) am a ____________________________, (physician, health care professional, other professional) and have the following credentials: _____________________ (MD, MSW, PhD). I have treated _________________________________ (applicant or tenant’s name) since _________________ (date). I have evaluated and/or treated __________________________________ (applicant or tenant’s name) ________(number of) times in the last 12 months OR I have not seen _________________________________ (applicant or tenant’s name) in the last 12 months; the last time I evaluated and/or treated _________________________________ (applicant or tenant’s name) was on ________ (date). However, I believe the condition would not have changed. _________________________________ (applicant or tenant’s name) disability makes it difficult for _________________________________ (applicant or tenant’s name) to __________________________________ (list one or more major life activities include seeing, walking, reaching, lifting, hearing, speaking, interacting with others, concentrating, learning, and caring for oneself.) In my professional opinion, as _________________________________'s (applicant or tenant’s name) ____________________________, (physician, health care professional, other professional), they reqiure ____________________________ (requesting accommodation) to be able to __________________________________ (list one or more major life activities include seeing, walking, reaching, lifting, hearing, speaking, interacting with others, concentrating, learning, and caring for oneself.)
Sincerely,
Name Title Agency Address Phone |