Which scenario illustrates a reasonable modification under the FHA?

• A. Installing a ramp at the dwelling door to accommodate a tenant with mobility impairment.
• B. Changing the property tax assessment.
• C. Altering a lease term to exclude families with children.
• D. Requiring all tenants to have pets.

Answer: (A)

Reasonable modifications under the Fair Housing Act involve making physical changes to a dwelling to allow a person with a disability to use and enjoy the housing. Installing a ramp at the dwelling door is a classic example because it directly changes the unit’s accessibility for someone with mobility impairment. These modifications are permitted when they’re reasonable and don’t impose an undue burden on the landlord, and the tenant typically covers the cost (though the landlord may require restoration at move-out, unless the changes are permanent and beneficial). The other scenarios don’t illustrate this concept: changing a property tax assessment isn’t a housing modification; altering a lease to exclude families with children is discriminatory under the FHA; and requiring all tenants to have pets is a blanket policy not about accessibility.