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Practice Of Real EstateFair HousingMEDIUM

A landlord in Prince George's County refuses to make a reasonable accommodation for a tenant who uses a wheelchair, despite the tenant's written request and documentation of the disability. The tenant files a complaint with the Maryland Commission on Civil Rights. During the MCCR's investigation, the landlord argues that making the accommodation would require significant structural changes that are too costly. Which of the following best describes how Maryland fair housing law addresses this argument?

Correct Answer

B) The landlord's argument may succeed if the cost of the modification constitutes an undue hardship, which is evaluated on a case-by-case basis.

Under the Maryland Fair Housing Act, Md. Code Ann., State Gov't §§ 20-701 et seq., and consistent with federal fair housing principles incorporated into Maryland law, landlords are required to provide reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities unless doing so would impose an undue hardship. Whether a modification constitutes an undue hardship is determined on a case-by-case basis, considering factors such as the cost of the modification, the landlord's financial resources, and the nature of the housing. The landlord's argument is therefore a recognized defense that must be evaluated individually.

Answer Options
A
The landlord's argument is a complete defense because structural modifications are never required under Maryland law.
B
The landlord's argument may succeed if the cost of the modification constitutes an undue hardship, which is evaluated on a case-by-case basis.
C
The landlord's argument is irrelevant because Maryland law requires all landlords to fund any requested modification regardless of cost.
D
The landlord's argument is irrelevant because reasonable accommodations and reasonable modifications are the same thing under Maryland law.

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Related Topics & Key Terms

Key Terms:

fair_housingdisabilityreasonable_accommodationreasonable_modificationenforcementundue_hardship

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