What Is a Reasonable Accommodation Request?
A reasonable accommodation request is a formal ask you make to your landlord or housing provider. You are asking them to change a rule, policy or practice so that you can fully use and enjoy your home.
Under the Fair Housing Act, housing providers must make these changes for people with disabilities unless doing so would cause an undue hardship. This applies to pet bans, breed restrictions, weight limits and no-animals policies. A Support Animal is not a pet under federal law. That distinction matters a great deal.
At TheraPetic® Healthcare Provider Group, our Licensed Clinical Doctors work with clients every day who feel nervous about sending this kind of letter. Many people worry they will upset their landlord or lose their housing. Knowing exactly what to write and how to send it removes most of that fear.
Who Qualifies to Make This Request?
You qualify if you have a disability and a Support Animal that your Licensed Clinical Doctor has recommended as part of your care. Under current federal law, a disability is any physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities.
This definition is broad by design. Depression, anxiety, PTSD, chronic pain, mobility limitations and many other conditions can qualify. You do not need to share your full diagnosis with your landlord. You only need to show that a disability exists and that the Support Animal is connected to it.
Your housing provider does not need to accept self-certification alone. A letter from a Licensed Clinical Doctor who is currently treating you, or who has evaluated you through a legitimate telehealth process, meets the documentation standard set by the Department of Housing and Urban Development.
If you are unsure whether your condition qualifies, our team at TheraPetic® is here to help. You can start the screening process at mypsd.org/screening and speak directly with a Licensed Clinical Doctor.
What to Include in Your Request
A strong reasonable accommodation request covers four core elements. Leave any of these out and your landlord may delay or deny your request simply because the letter is incomplete.
1. Your Disability Status (Without Oversharing)
You do not need to name your diagnosis. You only need to state that you have a disability as defined under the Fair Housing Act. Something like "I have a disability that affects a major life activity" is enough to establish that the legal threshold is met.
2. The Accommodation You Are Requesting
Be specific. State that you are requesting permission to keep a Support Animal in your unit. Include the animal's name, species and breed if possible. Vague requests lead to confusion and delay.
3. The Nexus Between Your Disability and the Animal
You must show that the Support Animal is connected to your disability. You do not need to explain how or in what way. Your Licensed Clinical Doctor's letter handles this part. In your personal letter, you can simply state that the animal provides support related to your disability and that documentation is attached.
4. Supporting Documentation
Attach your Support Animal letter from a Licensed Clinical Doctor. HUD guidance is clear that housing providers may request reliable documentation when the disability and the need for accommodation are not obvious. A properly written letter from a Licensed Clinical Doctor satisfies this requirement.
Template Language You Can Use Today
Below is a template you can adapt. Fill in the bracketed sections with your own information. Send this as a written letter or email so you have a record of the request and the date it was sent.
. -
Date: [Today's Date]
To: [Landlord Name or Property Manager Name]
[Property Management Company Name]
[Address]
From: [Your Full Name]
[Your Unit Address]
[Your Phone and Email]
Re: Reasonable Accommodation Request Under the Fair Housing Act
Dear [Landlord or Property Manager Name],
I am writing to request a reasonable accommodation under the Fair Housing Act. I have a disability that affects a major life activity. My Licensed Clinical Doctor has recommended that I keep a Support Animal as part of my ongoing care.
I am requesting permission to keep [Animal Name], a [species/breed], in my unit at [your address]. This accommodation is necessary because of my disability. I have attached documentation from my Licensed Clinical Doctor confirming the relationship between my disability and my need for this animal.
I understand that a Support Animal is not a pet under federal law and therefore requests to pay a pet deposit or pet fee do not apply to this request. I am happy to answer any questions and can be reached at [your phone number] or [your email].
Thank you for your time and consideration. I look forward to your response.
Sincerely,
[Your Full Name]
[Date]
Enclosure: Support Animal Documentation Letter
. -
That letter is direct and complete. It states your disability status without oversharing. It names the specific accommodation. It references your documentation and reminds the landlord of the federal legal framework.
Timeline Expectations and Landlord Obligations
The Fair Housing Act does not set a specific number of days for a landlord to respond. HUD guidance describes a "reasonable time" standard. In practice, most housing advocates treat 10 business days as a reasonable window for an initial response.
If your landlord does not respond within two weeks, follow up in writing. Reference your original request, include the date you sent it and ask for a written response with a firm decision date. Keeping everything in writing is critical if you ever need to file a complaint.
Your landlord is allowed to ask for documentation. They are not allowed to demand your full medical records, ask what your diagnosis is or contact your Licensed Clinical Doctor directly without your permission. They can only request enough information to verify that a disability exists and that the Support Animal is related to it.
Your landlord cannot legally charge you a pet deposit or a pet fee for a Support Animal. They can hold you responsible for any actual damage the animal causes to the property, the same way they hold any tenant responsible for damage. But a blanket pet deposit is prohibited.
Your landlord cannot apply breed restrictions, size limits or weight policies to a Support Animal. The Fair Housing Act covers any animal that your Licensed Clinical Doctor has recommended for disability-related support.
What to Do If Your Request Is Denied
A denial is not the end of the road. You have real options and real legal protections.
Ask for the Denial in Writing
If your landlord says no verbally, ask them to put that denial in writing. A written denial gives you documentation to work with. Ask them to explain the specific reason for the denial.
Review the Reason
There are only a few legitimate grounds for denial. Your landlord can deny if the accommodation would impose an undue financial or administrative burden. They can also deny if the specific animal poses a direct threat to others that cannot be reduced through other means. Breed and weight alone do not meet that standard under current HUD guidance.
If the denial is based on incomplete documentation, work with your Licensed Clinical Doctor to provide a more detailed letter. A TheraPetic® Licensed Clinical Doctor can provide documentation that is specifically written to address common landlord objections.
File a Complaint with HUD
You can file a Fair Housing complaint with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development at no cost. HUD investigates complaints of housing discrimination and has the authority to pursue action against landlords who violate the Fair Housing Act. The complaint process can be started online at hud.gov.
Contact a Local Fair Housing Organization
Many cities and states have local fair housing organizations that offer free legal guidance. These groups can review your situation, help you write a follow-up letter and represent you in the complaint process if needed.
Consult a Tenant Rights Attorney
If your landlord is threatening eviction or continues to deny a valid request, a tenant rights attorney can help you understand your legal options. Many work on contingency for Fair Housing cases, which means you may not pay anything out of pocket unless you win.
The Role of a Support Animal Letter in the Process
Your Support Animal letter is the most important document in this entire process. A letter from a Licensed Clinical Doctor confirms two things: that you have a disability and that your Support Animal is recommended as part of your care. Those two facts are all your landlord legally needs to know.
Not all letters are created equal. A letter that is too vague may give your landlord grounds to request more information. A letter that overshares your diagnosis may expose you to unnecessary questions. A well-crafted letter from a Licensed Clinical Doctor hits the legal standard precisely and protects your privacy at the same time.
At TheraPetic® Healthcare Provider Group, our Licensed Clinical Doctors write letters that are specifically designed to meet HUD guidelines. Our clinical team, led by Dr. Patrick Fisher, PhD, LPC, NCC, reviews each case to ensure the documentation is complete, accurate and defensible. We are a 501(c)(3) nonprofit healthcare provider, which means our mission is your care, not a transaction.
Many landlords accept TheraPetic® letters on the first submission because the documentation is clean, complete and professionally formatted. That makes the process faster and less stressful for you.
If you need a Support Animal letter or want to find out if you qualify, visit mypsd.org/screening to start the process. You can also learn more about your housing rights at officialservicepet.org.
You have real rights under federal law. Knowing how to use them is the first step toward the housing stability you deserve. A clear letter, proper documentation and a firm understanding of the process gives you a strong foundation to make your request and follow through if anything goes wrong.
If you have questions, our team is available at help@mypsd.org or by phone at (800) 851-4390. We are here to help you through every step.