HUD Handbook 4350.3 § 2-40

A.       When a family member requires an accessible feature(s), policy modification, or
                  other reasonable accommodation to accommodate a disability, the owner must
                  provide the requested accommodation unless doing so would result in a
                  fundamental alteration in the nature of the program or an undue financial and
                  administrative burden. A fundamental alteration is a modification that is so
                  significant that it alters the essential nature of the provider’s operations.

         B.       If providing such accommodation(s) would result in an undue financial and
                  administrative burden, the owner must take any other action that would not result
                  in an undue burden. See Section 2-46 B.

HUD Occupancy Handbook                              2-37                                            6/07
Chapter 2: Civil Rights and
Nondiscrimination Requirements

                                                              Additional Nondiscrimination and Accessibility
                                                                 Requirements for Persons with Disabilities

                                                                                           Subsection 4:
                                                                               Reasonable Accomodations

C.        If a provider refuses a requested accommodation because it is not reasonable,
                 the provider should engage in an interactive dialogue with the requester to
                 determine if there is an alternative accommodation that would adequately
                 address the requester’s disability-related needs. If an alternative accommodation
                 would meet the individuals needs and is reasonable, the provider must grant it.

       D.        Under both Section 504 and the Fair Housing Act, a tenant or applicant for
                 housing makes a reasonable accommodation request whenever he or she
                 makes it clear to the housing provider that a request is being made for an
                 exception, change, or adjustment to a rule, policy, practice, service, or physical
                 structure because of his or her disability. A request can be made by the person
                 with the disability, a family member, or someone else acting on the individual’s
                 behalf.

       E.        Although a request can be made orally or in writing, it is usually helpful for both
                 the individual with the disability and the housing provider if the request is reduced
                 to writing. If the individual with a disability requires assistance in providing a
                 written reasonable accommodation request, the housing provider should assist
                 the individual with a disability with this request.

       F.        Providers have an obligation to provide prompt responses to reasonable
                 accommodations requests.