Can You Refuse to Lease to a Person With a Disability?
Updated 8 days ago (March 6, 2026)
No. Under the Fair Housing Act, tenants or prospective tenants with a disability have the right to apply for and live in a rental unit regardless of their impairment. Therefore, it's forbidden to discriminate based on this condition.
According to Federal law, someone with a disability could include:
A person with a mental or physical disability that substantially limits their ability to perform one or more major life activities
A person that has a record of the disability
A person that is considered by others as having the disability
In addition, you should consider the following list of conditions as examples of disabilities:
Mobile disability
Visual impairment
Hearing impairment
Intellectual disability
Alcoholism
Drug addiction
Mental illness
Some terminal illnesses, such as HIV
Legal Disclaimer: Tellus provides this content for informational purposes only. This is not legal advice. Laws vary by state and locality, and regulations may have changed since this article was published. Consult a qualified attorney for guidance specific to your situation.
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