Your Rights Applying for Housing
as a Renter with a Disability in Illinois

You have rights as a renter with disabilities in Illinois, including during the housing application process. You can ask for accommodations at many points in the process:

A group of people on a pathway that describes that you can ask for an accommodation in many parts of the housing application process including when viewing an apartment, when asking for or completing an application, for changes in a tenant selection plan, if your application is rejected, and even after you move in to a place.

On this page, we mostly talk about the application process. This site includes:

A brief overview of the laws that give you these rights
Examples of common situations you might find yourself in
Sample letters that you (or someone providing you support) can copy and make changes to for your situation

It's your choice to share about your disability, but it's important you know your rights!

How does the Fair Housing Act protect my rights?

The Fair Housing Act protects the rights of many people, including people with disabilities. Here is an important part of what the law covers:

The right to ask for a change, exception, or adjustment to a housing rule, policy, practice, or service to enjoy the place where you live (or want to live) like anyone else if your request relates to your disability

What does this mean if I am a renter looking for a place to live?

What you might not know is that you can ask for an accommodation, or a change, to a policy during the application process. The reasons we talk about here are related to disabilities.

Here are some examples of policy changes you can ask for if the reason relates to a disability:

Asking to have someone attend a tour of a building for you
Giving more time for the application process
Asking for a change to a tenant selection plan, like credit score requirements, past eviction policies, or policies about renting to people with past arrests or time spent in prison or jail

I can ask the owner to change policies for things like this? Tell me more.

Below are some common situations that you might not know about. Each page has:

A quick overview of how the law applies to each issue
Common examples that renters might relate to
Sample letters that explain what to include in a request and that you can copy, change, and edit with your own details

Note: We use the term owner on this site to keep it simple, but any staff you work with including property managers and others have to follow the laws, too.

Asking to change a credit score policy

Asking to change a policy about a past eviction

Asking to change a policy about arrest records or time in prison or jail

Asking for more time in the application process

What else should I know about asking for accommodations?

Here are a few other tips:

Make your requests in writing if you can so that you have proof of what you asked for and when (it's not required but it is good to have proof you did it)
Explain that you have a disability, what changes you would like to happen, and why your request is needed (especially if it might not be something that they would know about)
Share what is relevant about your disability and need for an accommodation, but you don't have to share more than that

What should I do if my application is rejected?

Ask what the appeal process is and file an appeal. Sometimes, you may get a different response through the appeal process.

What if I don't have a disability or my reasons for a policy change or application rejection are not related to my disability?

You may still have protections! For example, in Cook County, property owners must follow the Just Housing Amendment. This law protects certain people who have been arrested or have been in jail or prison from discrimination when applying for housing.

If your housing application was denied for any reason, even if not related to a disability, you can still ask about how their appeal process works and file an appeal.

Graphic of a gray-haired black man holding a bill and looking surprised.

Marcus's story

Marcus lived in a neighborhood that got expensive fast. He had trouble paying the rent when it increased, and he was evicted.

Now, he has found a new apartment in his price range and applied. His application was denied. Marcus can ask about the appeal process, file an appeal, and explain his situation. It doesn't matter if the issue was related to a disability.

What if I have more questions?

Here are some resources to learn more:

Illinois ADA Project website at Equip for Equality
Illinois Department of Human Rights website
Illinois Legal Aid Online website

About this site: This site is managed by Corporation for Supportive Housing. If you have suggestions or would like to report an error, please contact Stephanie Sideman at stephanie.sideman@csh.org or you can complete this short survey to give feedback.

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Your Rights Applying for Housing as a Renter with a Disability in Illinois