Is a tenant allowed to make modifications to their rental apartments?
The federal law Fair Housing Amendments Act (FHAA) mandates that landlords must allow tenants with impairments to make “reasonable” modifications in both common use areas and in private apartments. Residents of New York City are also covered under NYC’s Human Rights Law, one of the most comprehensive in the country. NYC’s Human Rights Law requires the landlord to provide and pay for “reasonable accommodations”, which can include structural changes. What is deemed “reasonable” will vary from situation to situation. The law takes into account the nature and cost of the accommodation and the financial resources of the landlord. “Under the NYC Human Rights Law, a landlord must accommodate the needs of a person with a disability, including paying for structural changes, if the accommodation is deemed reasonable”. “Reasonable Accommodations” can also involve changes in policy or rules, such as permitting a tenant who is blind to have a guide doe even though the building has a “no pet” policy
