Reasonable accommodation for lack of income due to disability

Tenant Screening
9moFollow

Reasonable accommodation for lack of income due to disability

Maya Jones
Member since 2025 · 126 posts · 45 votes

As a small landlord putting rental criteria together, I have decided to not accept cosigners or guarantors as I want to minimize risk. 
If I have a person with disability asking for cosigner / guarantor to help them meet the income criteria How  does that process of communication work? It’s my understanding that I need to consider their request to allow them to use a cosigner/ gurantor so they can have a fair chance to housing. But how do I deal with the process? Do I ask for more information about the cosigners to see if they meet my prescreening criteria? If yes then allow a tour ( what I would typically do after prescreening criteria has been  met) 
Has anyone have had to deal with this before? 
I’d love your thoughts. 

also if their income doesnt meet the threshold of 3x rent because of their disability to work?. Why should I approve them? Even with cosigner

shouldnt they look for a cheaper housing option? 

looking for honest advice, not trying to get in trouble here

0Reply
117 views

Most Popular Reply

G. Brian DavisPro Member
Investor · Hatboro, PA · Member since 2016 · 3k+ posts · 877 votes
9mo

Hi @Maya Jones You can set neutral, written rental criteria and apply them consistently to everyone. A disability accommodation request doesn’t mean automatic approval, it means you must consider the request and document your decision.

If your policy is no cosigner's, you can ask whether another accommodation would help (such as alternative income verification or rental assistance). If a cosigner is requested, you’re allowed to screen them using the same standards you’d apply to any financially responsible party. You’re not required to accept a guarantor who doesn’t meet your criteria or to take on more risk than you normally would.

If the applicant still can’t meet income requirements even with a qualified cosigner, you can deny based on inability to pay, as long as that standard is applied consistently and documented. When in doubt, a quick check with a local landlord association or fair housing attorney is a smart move.

1Reply
See this reply in the discussion

6 Replies

Jump to latestLatest
  • G. Brian DavisPro Member
    Investor · Hatboro, PA · Member since 2016 · 3k+ posts · 877 votes
    9mo

    Hi @Maya Jones You can set neutral, written rental criteria and apply them consistently to everyone. A disability accommodation request doesn’t mean automatic approval, it means you must consider the request and document your decision.

    If your policy is no cosigner's, you can ask whether another accommodation would help (such as alternative income verification or rental assistance). If a cosigner is requested, you’re allowed to screen them using the same standards you’d apply to any financially responsible party. You’re not required to accept a guarantor who doesn’t meet your criteria or to take on more risk than you normally would.

    If the applicant still can’t meet income requirements even with a qualified cosigner, you can deny based on inability to pay, as long as that standard is applied consistently and documented. When in doubt, a quick check with a local landlord association or fair housing attorney is a smart move.

    1Reply
  • Maya Jones
    OP
    Member since 2025 · 126 posts · 45 votes
    9mo

    Wouldn't i be asking for higher requirement for a cosigner? Since they for example are responsible for their own financial obligations additional to this person's rent payment who cannot meet the threshhold? 
    Also how would you respond to this person? We don't accept cosigners as our rental criteria. if you are making an accommodation request please provide some documentation? I guess what would be the next step? 

    0Reply
  • Jules Aton
    MD/DC · Member since 2024 · 1k+ posts · 1k+ votes
    9mo

    Has this happened? I’ve never heard of a requirement for reasonable accommodations for disability regarding the cost of rent or having to accept a co-signer. I have on one occasion had an affluent parent co-sign for their young adult child with no problems and would consider again. 


    0Reply
    • Maya Jones
      OP
      Member since 2025 · 126 posts · 45 votes
      9mo

      @Jules Aton can you believe what people try to get out of you? 
      Have the money or go find a cheaper rent.! Wtf

      0Reply
  • Marc Winter
    Real Estate Broker · Northeast PA · Member since 2017 · 2k+ posts · 3k+ votes
    8mo

    Cosigners should be screened using the same criteria as the tenant who will occupy the unit.  

    They are 'absentee co-tenants' and will be subject to the terms of the lease:  Jointly and severally.

    0Reply
  • Drew SygitBusiness Member
    Property Manager · Royal Oak, MI · Member since 2012 · 12k+ posts · 9k+ votes
    8mo
    Quote from @Maya Jones:

    As a small landlord putting rental criteria together, I have decided to not accept cosigners or guarantors as I want to minimize risk. 
    If I have a person with disability asking for cosigner / guarantor to help them meet the income criteria How  does that process of communication work? It’s my understanding that I need to consider their request to allow them to use a cosigner/ gurantor so they can have a fair chance to housing. But how do I deal with the process? Do I ask for more information about the cosigners to see if they meet my prescreening criteria? If yes then allow a tour ( what I would typically do after prescreening criteria has been  met) 
    Has anyone have had to deal with this before? 
    I’d love your thoughts. 

    also if their income doesnt meet the threshold of 3x rent because of their disability to work?. Why should I approve them? Even with cosigner

    shouldnt they look for a cheaper housing option? 

    looking for honest advice, not trying to get in trouble here


     Cosigners are not a big deal, so not sure why you wouldn't accept them?

    Challenges:
    1) Making sure it's an ACCEPTABLE cosigner!
    - Many low-FICO applicants get another low-FICO person to cosign for them🤬

    2) Getting same docs from cosigner as applicant
    - Many think you just need their contact info!

    3) Confirm cosigner + applicant have enough income to cover rent of your unit. 
    - You may want to include cosigner's housing cost also.

    4) Be sure to note in your lease that cosigner is "non-occupant guarantor", so they can't occupy. They will need to sign lease.

    5) Be wary of a cosigner that does NOT want to be liable for damages. 
    - That's a BIG red flag!

    What you really want is a cosigner with great credit that doesn't want an eviction on their credit report. The hope is either they will pay the rent if necessary or pressure the tenant to do so.

    [email protected]248-209-6824
    Logical Property Management4.9465 Reviews
    WebsiteView Page
    0Reply
Join the conversationCreate a free account to reply, vote on answers and follow this thread.
Log InJoin for Free