Do landlords have to honor accommodations requested by tenants in accordance with Fair Housing Law?

Yes, landlords are legally required to honor reasonable accommodations requested by tenants as required by Washington’s Fair Housing Law. This law protects tenants from discrimination based on age, race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, disability, color, or national origin. This means that, for instance, a landlord is prohibited from denying housing to a tenant because of their race or religion. Under Fair Housing Law, landlords are also required to provide reasonable modifications and accommodations to a tenant’s living space to accommodate their disability. Examples include installing ramps or elevators, widening doorways, or permitting the tenant to keep a service or support animal. Landlords must also make an effort to reassign a tenant to another unit if their current unit is not suitable for the required accommodations. The Washington State Office of Civil Rights oversees Fair Housing Law. If a tenant believes a landlord has violated their rights, they can file a complaint with the State Office, which will investigate the matter. If the State Office finds a violation, they can issue a fine or other corrective action against the landlord. Therefore, landlords in Washington must abide by Fair Housing Law and honor any reasonable accommodations requested by a tenant or face penalties.

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