Finding an apartment that meets your access needs

Name the features, not just an “accessible” label

Write down the features you need in plain words. That could be a route with no steps from parking or transit, door width, bathroom layout or the right floor. Ask if the unit you’re offered has them now. A model unit or directory tag doesn’t tell you about the apartment you’d live in.

A rule change and a physical change are different requests

HUD and DOJ’s joint guidance explains reasonable accommodations, which are changes to rules, policies, practices or services. A physical change to the unit brings up different questions. Ask the provider how to request each one, who answers and what they need from you. What the provider has to do depends on the program and your situation.

Don’t wait until the application falls through

If a disability makes an online form, a deadline or another step hard, contact the provider right away. Ask for another way to do it, and explain what’s in the way and the change you need. Keep a note of the date, what you asked for and the answer. Don’t assume every request needs a stack of medical records.

Check the path, not just the unit

• The route from the entrance to the apartment and to shared areas.
• How to report an elevator outage or access problem.
• Transit at the times you make regular trips.
• Any service you need that the property doesn’t offer.