The HUD reasonable accommodation request form, officially HUD Form 1000, is a short structured letter you send to your housing provider to ask for a disability-related change to a rule, policy, or physical feature of your home. You can download it in PDF or Word format from HUD’s procedures handbook page. Many Public Housing Agencies and private landlords hand out their own version at the management office, and either version works. The legal basis for the request is the Fair Housing Act at 42 U.S.C. § 3604(f), which makes it unlawful to refuse a reasonable accommodation a person with a disability needs for equal use of their home.
What to Write on the Form
The form is essentially a one-page letter. It asks for four things: who you are, what you want, why you need it, and whether you have documentation to back it up.
Start with your name, address, unit number, and the best way to reach you. Then describe the accommodation or modification in concrete terms. “I need a reserved parking space within 50 feet of the building entrance” is stronger than “I need accessible parking.” The more specific your request, the faster the provider can evaluate it.
Next, explain the connection between your disability and what you are asking for. You do not have to name a diagnosis. Describe the functional limitation instead: “I cannot walk more than a short distance without severe pain, so the current first-come parking system means I sometimes cannot reach my apartment safely.” That gives the provider what it needs — a limitation, a barrier, and a fix — without disclosing anything medical.
Finally, indicate whether you are attaching supporting documentation. If you already have a verification letter, note it on the form and attach it. If you do not have one yet, submit the form anyway and say you will provide documentation separately. Waiting to gather paperwork before you file is one of the most common delays, and nothing requires everything to arrive together.
A Note on What You Are Asking For
The Fair Housing Act separates two kinds of requests. A reasonable accommodation is a change to a rule, policy, or service — reserved parking, a policy exception for an assistance animal, a shifted rent due date, or a transfer to an accessible unit when one opens.1eCFR. 24 CFR 100.204 – Reasonable Accommodations A reasonable modification is a physical change to the unit or common areas, like grab bars, a ramp, or a widened doorway. In private housing without federal assistance, you pay for modifications and may be required to restore the interior when you move out. In federally assisted housing, the provider generally pays.2HUD Exchange. In Public Housing, Who Is Responsible for Paying for Physical Modifications? The form itself works the same either way.
Documentation to Attach
If your disability is obvious or already known to the provider, no documentation is needed. When it is not apparent, the provider may ask for reliable information that confirms you meet the Fair Housing Act’s definition of disability, identifies the accommodation you need, and shows why your disability creates that need.3Department of Justice. U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
The provider cannot demand your full medical records, a specific diagnosis, or details about severity. A letter from a doctor, therapist, social worker, peer support group, or non-medical service agency is enough. In some cases proof of SSI or SSDI benefits, or your own credible written statement, will satisfy the requirement.4Department of Justice. Joint Statement of the Department of Housing and Urban Development and the Department of Justice on Reasonable Accommodations Any disability-related information the provider receives must be kept confidential and shared only with people involved in the decision.
A useful verification letter covers three points in two or three sentences: the writer has professional knowledge of your situation, you have a disability that substantially limits a major life activity, and the requested accommodation is connected to that limitation. It does not need to be long, and it does not need to name the condition.
How to Submit the Form
You can submit a request in any format, including a verbal conversation, but put it in writing. If the provider later claims it never received the request, the burden of proof is on you. Three delivery methods create that proof:
- Certified mail with return receipt. The postal receipt and signed return card give you a dated record of delivery.
- Hand delivery with a timestamped copy. Bring two copies and ask the management office to date-stamp or sign one as received.
- Email with delivery and read confirmations turned on. Save the confirmations in a folder you will not accidentally delete.
Keep a copy of the form, every attachment, and the delivery confirmation together in one place. A dated copy resolves most later disputes about whether you ever asked.
What Happens After You Submit
The provider should respond promptly. HUD recommends that Public Housing Agencies respond within 10 business days.5HUD Exchange. Reasonable Accommodations in Public Housing Private landlords have no hard federal deadline, but an unreasonable delay can itself be treated as a denial under the Fair Housing Act.4Department of Justice. Joint Statement of the Department of Housing and Urban Development and the Department of Justice on Reasonable Accommodations
You will get one of three responses:
- Approval. The provider agrees and implements the change. Policy changes can happen almost immediately; physical modifications come with a work timeline.
- A request for additional information. If your documentation does not establish the connection between your disability and the accommodation, the provider can ask for more. This is normal and is not a denial. Send the information and the clock restarts.
- Denial or an alternative offer. The provider may say your specific request is not feasible but propose a different accommodation for the same limitation. If the alternative meets your need, the provider has satisfied its obligation. If it does not, you can push back.
Many requests turn into a back-and-forth rather than a clean yes or no. The provider is supposed to meet with you, ask what you need, and explore alternatives when your first choice creates a real operational problem. A provider that refuses to engage, or that offers only token alternatives it knows will not work, is not acting in good faith.
If Your Request Is Denied
A flat denial, a long silence, or an alternative that does not actually address your limitation all give you grounds to escalate.
Ask for the denial in writing. If the no came verbally, request a written explanation. This documents the refusal and sometimes prompts a second look, because the person who initially said no may not have had full authority.
File a complaint with HUD’s Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity. You have one year from the date of the last discriminatory act.6U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Learn About FHEO’s Process to Report and Investigate Housing Discrimination File online at hud.gov/reporthousingdiscrimination, call 1-800-669-9777, or mail a completed HUD Form 903.1 to your regional FHEO office.7U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Report Housing Discrimination FHEO will investigate and attempt conciliation between you and the provider.
Contact your state or local fair housing agency. Many states have their own fair housing laws with equal or stronger protections. Some state agencies process complaints faster than HUD, and state law may cover situations where HUD’s current enforcement policy leaves a gap.
File a private lawsuit. The Fair Housing Act lets you sue in federal court whether or not you file a HUD complaint. A court can order the accommodation, award damages, and impose penalties. Legal aid organizations and fair housing nonprofits often take these cases at no cost to the tenant.
One Boundary: Assistance Animal Requests After May 2026
If you are using Form 1000 to request an accommodation for an emotional support animal, know that HUD’s enforcement position changed on May 22, 2026. HUD canceled its previous guidance (FHEO-2013-01 and FHEO-2020-01) and will now only pursue Fair Housing Act complaints involving animals individually trained to perform disability-related work or tasks. Species other than dogs still count as long as the animal meets the training standard, and owner-training is fine — no professional certification required.8Disability Rights Education & Defense Fund. An Enforcement Agency That Won’t Enforce: HUD’s Policy Reversal On Emotional Support Animals
If your animal provides comfort through its presence alone and has no task training, HUD will close a complaint without finding a violation. Existing ESA approvals from your landlord remain in effect. The policy change applies only to HUD’s own enforcement. Section 504, the ADA, state fair housing laws, and your right to sue in federal court are unaffected, and many states still protect untrained emotional support animals.