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Landlord Won't Honor Biking Request

Seeking accommodation from a landlord

I'm disabled with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and depression. I was told by my primary care physician and my pulmonary specialist that I should use a stationary bike to exercise regularly. My landlord, a building manager for a HUD subsidized public housing authority, failed to comply with my request for more space so I could in fact use my bike. I would think that this would be illegal under the Americans DA . What I'm wondering is, is it criminal?

While your landlord's reaction seems to be meanspirited, bordering on heartless, it is not criminal. The penalties for refusing to accommodate a disabled tenant are stiff, but they do not include jail time.

Be aware that the landlord is required to make only those changes that are reasonable. You cannot, for example, expect him or her to construct an deck for your bike or evict a tenant with a larger space to accommodate your biking request.

Have another talk with your landlord. Since an exercise bike is really not so big and because you may only need to use it for limited times each day, it is hard to imagine that the two of you will not be able to reach some compromise. If the landlord still refuses to work with you, get in touch with the local Housing and Urban Development office or the New York state equivalent and explain the situation.

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