Most disputes are won or lost on the paper trail. Here is how to make a request that is hard to ignore — and what to do if the HOA stalls, denies, or retaliates.
Put it in writing
Email is fine — and better than a phone call, because it is dated and keeps a record. Send it to the board and the management company, and keep a copy of everything.
What to say (and what not to over-share)
State plainly:
- That you are requesting a reasonable accommodation (or modification) under the Fair Housing Act because of a disability.
- What you need (e.g., approval of an assistance animal; a designated accessible parking space; permission to install a ramp).
- That the need is disability-related — you do not have to name your diagnosis or describe your medical condition.
If asked for documentation, provide only a brief statement from a provider or reliable source confirming a disability-related need — not your medical records, and not on a form that demands more than the law allows (see what an HOA may not demand).
If the HOA ignores, delays, or denies
An unreasonable delay, a demand for improper documentation, or a denial without an individualized reason is a fair-housing problem. You can file a complaint — free, no lawyer needed, within a one-year deadline:
Retaliation is illegal — including against your advocate
Under 42 U.S.C. § 3617, it is a separate violation for the HOA to threaten, coerce, or retaliate against you for asserting these rights — and against anyone who aids or encourages you, including a family member or friend who advocates on your behalf. An HOA cannot lawfully punish you, or shut out the person helping you, for making a fair-housing request. If it does, that can be a new complaint of its own.
A parallel note: if you have also asked for association records and been stonewalled, Arizona’s records statutes (§ 33-1805 / § 33-1260) give you a separate 10-business-day right — and the records request generator can help.