If you are in recovery and your criminal history that is related to your addiction is making it hard for you to rent an apartment, you can ask your landlord to make an accommodation and ignore your criminal history.
Addiction is considered a disability. Under the Fair Housing Act, people with disabilities are protected from housing discrimination that is based on a criminal history if that criminal history is a result of your disability.
When you ask a landlord to ignore your disability-related criminal history, this is called requesting a reasonable accommodation. The best way to request a reasonable accommodation is by sending a letter to the landlord. (Learn more about Renting an Apartment When You Are in Recovery).
To create your letter, follow these steps:
- Complete the form below
- Click the "Create my request" button
- You will be taken to a new page that has a PDF of your letter
- Download or print the PDF of your letter
- Submit your letter to the landlord you are trying to rent from
Please note: this tool will not submit the letter to the landlord. You must download or print the letter and submit it to the landlord.
Languages: this Addiction Recovery Accommodation Request Tool is available in English and Spanish. Be aware that DRTx recommends that you provide your request in a language understandable to the party or entity receiving it, which in most circumstances will be English.