On May 17, 2004 HUD and the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) released new joint guidance on the Fair Housing Act requirement to provide reasonable accommodations to persons with disabilities. The notice says housing providers may not charge an extra fee, require an additional deposit or require special liability insurance before granting a reasonable accommodation. However, if the disable resident damages the property through his/her accommodation (e.g., service animals or motorized scooters), the provider may charge for the cost of the repair. Providers can also deny a request if it would impose an undue financial and administrative burden. The guidance points out, however, that courts have held that providers may be required to incur some costs in granting a reasonable accommodation. The guidance also offers information on procedures for handling requests and requesting information about disabilities.
