Verification letters are sometimes needed when making requests to housing providers. This publication describes what verification letters are and when they are needed. It also provides a sample request and template letter.
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Disclaimer:This publication is legal information only and is not legal advice about your individual situation. It is current as of the date posted. We try to update our materials regularly. However, laws are regularly changing. If you want to make sure the law has not changed, contact DRC or another legal office.
Verification letters are sometimes needed when making requests to housing providers. This publication describes what verification letters are and when they are needed. It also provides a sample request and template letter.
What are reasonable accommodations in housing?
If their housing is inaccessible, people with disabilities may ask their housing providers for changes in the rules, policies, procedures, or services to meet their disability-related needs. These are called reasonable accommodations. Please read this publication "Housing Discrimination Based on Disability - Your Rights and Options" for more information.
What is a verification letter?
Verification letters are used to support a resident’s reasonable accommodation/modification requests. A verification letter confirms that a person with a disability has a disability-related need for the change they are requesting to their housing policies, procedures, services, or physical structures.
Who can provide a verification letter?
Someone who knows about the needs of the person who is requesting the reasonable accommodation or modification can provide a verification letter.
This is a list of people who can provide verification letters according to the California Fair Housing and Employment Act regulations, 2 CCR § 12178(g):
- A medical professional
- A health care provider, including the office of a medical practice
- A peer support group
- Non-medical service agencies or providers, such as In-Home Supportive Services or Supported Living Services providers
- Any other dependable 3rd party who knows about the disability or disability-related need for an accommodation or modification. This could even be a family member who is a caregiver for a person with a disability.
When do you need to provide a verification letter?
When a person with a disability asks for a reasonable accommodation or reasonable modification from their housing provider, a housing provider can request a verification letter from the person with a disability when the need for the accommodation/modification is not obvious.
Verification letters are not necessary if the need for the accommodation or modification is obvious. Here is an example of an obvious need for a reasonable modification: A tenant who uses a wheelchair asks their housing provider for permission to install a ramp to access their door that is raised up a step. A verification letter is not necessary to understand that this tenant needs a ramp to access their housing.
What is a verification letter used for?
A housing provider uses a verification letter to confirm the person with a disability (1) has a disability AND (2) has a need for the reasonable accommodation or modification.
When someone has a disability that is not apparent or visible, a verification letter helps a housing provider to understand that the person has a disability. Examples of disabilities that might not be apparent are: if someone has a mental health disability, is neurodivergent, or is immunocompromised.
People with the same disability may have different disability-related needs. Because of this, the verification letter helps a housing provider to understand what individual needs must be met and what changes would meet the individual’s needs.
Does my verification provider need to fill out specific forms or send in the verification letter directly?
No, the law does not require that specific forms be used or that verification letters come directly from the provider. Some housing providers ask that tenants use their specific forms, and the tenant has a choice in whether they use the form. Using a housing provider’s forms can make it easier and faster to process reasonable accommodation or modification requests since the forms may show what information the housing provider needs. Some housing providers also ask that tenants give them permission to speak directly with the person verifying the disability.
If you have concerns about the housing provider’s form asking for too much information, you may contact Disability Rights California for free legal advice about your rights and options.
What should I say to health care provider’s offices or other sources of verification letters to request a verification letter?
You should let the health care provider know the disability-related reason why you cannot access your housing and that you are making/have made a reasonable accommodation or modification request to your housing provider.
You should tell them what accommodations or modifications you have requested and ask the health care provider to confirm those changes are needed to manage your symptoms. The health care provider’s office can also give additional suggestions for changes that would meet your disability-related needs.
You can give the below sample verification letter and a copy of your reasonable accommodation or modification request to your health care provider’s office for them to review. You can also ask your health care provider’s office to send the verification letter to both you and your housing provider so that you have a copy of the letter for your records.
Example of a request for a verification letter to a health care provider’s office:
Dear [Health Care Provider name],
I made a reasonable accommodation request to my landlord, asking that when my landlord communicates with me in writing, that she only send me emails instead of paper writings, and that she put all the information she is sending me within the body of the email instead of attaching it as an inaccessible attachment. Attached, please see the reasonable accommodation request I made.
A few times important notices have blown away off my door when I have been unable to make it outside, and I cannot read those paper notices anyway. Will you please write a letter to my housing provider at this {address} to let her know that I need this change to be able to access my housing in the same way as people without my disability?
As a reminder, my housing provider is not entitled to know my medical diagnosis or detailed information about my disability, but my housing provider is allowed to seek verification that I have a disability-related need for the reasonable accommodation I am requesting.
Thank you so much for helping me to remove disability-related obstacles and to access my housing!
Sincerely,
Patient Name
Sample Verification Letter
[Date]
To [Landlord, Housing Authority, or Homeowners Association, etc.]:
I am the [physician/psychiatrist/psychologist/therapist/social worker/occupational therapist] for [patient/client name] and I am familiar with [his/her/their] condition. [He/She/They] have a disability that causes certain functional limitations. These limitations include [list the limitations that require the requested accommodation].
[The requested accommodation] is necessary for [patient/client name] to live in the community and use and enjoy [his/her/their] dwelling by [describe how the accommodation will assist or support the individual].
Thank you for providing this reasonable accommodation for [patient/client name].
Sincerely,
[Name and Title]
What if I have more questions?
Disability Rights California provides free legal advice to Californians with disabilities on their housing law matters. Please call 1-800-776-5746 during intake hours, https://www.disabilityrightsca.org/get-help
