Are landlords required to provide reasonable accommodations for tenants with mental disabilities in accordance with Fair Housing Law?

Yes, landlords in California are required to provide reasonable accommodations for tenants with mental disabilities in accordance with Fair Housing Law. Fair Housing Law, which is enforced by HUD (the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development), does not only protect tenants from discrimination on the basis of race, sex, religion, and other protected classes, but also on the basis of mental disability. This means that if a tenant with a mental disability requests reasonable accommodations in order to live comfortably in their unit, the landlord must provide them if reasonable. Examples of reasonable accommodations that landlords must provide to tenants with mental disabilities include allowing a tenant to keep a service animal or make changes to the unit in order to accommodate the tenant’s disability. For example, a tenant with a mental disability may require a landlord to install extra handrails or make other modifications in order to ensure their safety. It is important for landlords to understand their obligation to provide reasonable accommodations for tenants with mental disabilities in order to comply with Fair Housing Law. If a landlord fails to provide reasonable accommodations or denies a tenant’s request for an accommodation, the tenant can file a complaint with HUD or take other legal action.

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