Requesting Reasonable Adjustments for Visual Impairments

For renters with low vision or blindness, an accessible home and practical communication can make the difference between housing stability and daily barriers. In New Brunswick, tenants can ask for reasonable adjustments related to a visual impairment, whether they are applying for a rental, living in a unit, or responding to a housing issue. Adjustments may involve notices, inspections, lighting, entrances, communication methods, or service animals, depending on the individual need. This guide explains how to make a clear request, work with a landlord, document the process, and seek help if an accommodation is refused or delayed. It also identifies New Brunswick resources for tenant rights, human rights complaints, and residential tenancy questions.

Understanding reasonable adjustments in New Brunswick

A reasonable adjustment, often called accommodation, is a change that helps a person with a disability access or use housing fairly. The request should be connected to the visual impairment and should not require the landlord to remove essential housing standards. Human rights protections apply to housing, and the New Brunswick Human Rights Act is a key source for disability-related accommodation duties.^[1]

Examples can include providing notices in large print, email, audio, or another accessible format; allowing a trusted support person to receive information with permission; giving advance notice in an accessible way; improving lighting where practical; or allowing a tenant to use assistive technology. A landlord may ask for enough information to understand the disability-related need, but a tenant does not normally need to disclose every detail of a medical history.

Possible adjustments for visual impairments

The best adjustment depends on the building, the tenancy, and what creates the barrier. Discuss the specific problem rather than requesting a general promise of accessibility.

• Ask for rental agreements, notices, inspection information, and other important documents in an accessible format.
• Request telephone, email, or in-person communication when printed notices are difficult to read.
• Discuss accessible identification of entrances, unit numbers, intercoms, mail areas, and common spaces.
• Ask whether lighting, contrast, handrails, or other practical changes can reduce a safety or navigation barrier.
• Request a disability-related exception to a rule when applying the rule would create unequal access, subject to a discussion of reasonable limits.

How to make a written request

A written request creates a clear record and can help prevent misunderstandings. Send it to the landlord, property manager, or designated housing contact using an accessible method. If someone assists you, state whether that person may communicate on your behalf.

1. Document the visual barrier, when it occurs, and how it affects your ability to access or use the rental home.
2. Submit a specific accommodation request, such as receiving notices by email or in large print.
3. Ask for a response by a reasonable date and explain if an upcoming inspection, notice, or appointment makes the matter urgent.
4. Contact the landlord to discuss alternatives if the first proposal is not workable.

Keep the request respectful and focused on access. You can also review Obligations of Landlords and Tenants: Rights and Responsibilities Explained for general information about communication and tenancy responsibilities.

Working with the landlord and protecting your privacy

Accommodation is usually handled through cooperation. A landlord may ask for reliable information confirming that the request is disability-related and describing the functional limitation, especially when the need is not obvious. You can ask what information is necessary, who will see it, and how it will be stored. Keep medical details limited to what is reasonably needed to assess the request.

Suggest more than one workable option when possible. For example, if large print is not practical for a particular document, accessible email or a telephone explanation may solve the same problem. Do not make structural changes or install equipment without checking whether written permission is required under the tenancy agreement or another rule.

Keep copies of your request, responses, supporting documents, dates, and notes about conversations. If the issue concerns a repair or safety condition, use the province's tenancy information and repair guidance, including How to Handle Complaints in Your Rental: A Tenant's Guide.

If your request is refused or ignored

A refusal is not always the end of the process. Ask for the reason in writing and invite the landlord to discuss another option. If the landlord says the adjustment is too costly, unsafe, or disruptive, ask for the specific concern and whether a less burdensome alternative would address the barrier.

• Keep the request, replies, notices, receipts, photographs, and communication log together.
• Check every notice for a deadline and seek advice promptly if a tenancy hearing or eviction issue is involved.
• Contact the New Brunswick Human Rights Commission about a possible discrimination complaint.
• Contact New Brunswick's residential tenancies authority for questions about tenancy notices, repairs, or dispute procedures.

Human rights and residential tenancy processes address different issues, so identify whether the main problem is discrimination, a tenancy notice, a repair, or several concerns at once. New Brunswick's official tenant information can help you choose the appropriate route.^[2] You can also consult Tenant Rights and Landlord Rights in New Brunswick for broader provincial context.

FAQ

Can a New Brunswick tenant request accessible rental notices?

Yes, a tenant can request an accessible communication method, such as email, large print, audio, or another practical format, when printed notices create a disability-related barrier.

Can a landlord ask for medical information?

A landlord may ask for enough information to understand the disability-related need and assess the accommodation, but the tenant can ask that unnecessary medical details remain private.

What should I do if my landlord refuses an adjustment?

Ask for the reason in writing, propose alternatives, preserve your records, and contact the New Brunswick Human Rights Commission or the residential tenancies authority for guidance.

Can I make accessibility changes to my rental unit?

Discuss the proposed change with the landlord first and obtain any required written permission, particularly for alterations affecting the building, fixtures, or safety.

How-To

1. Record the visual barrier and explain how it affects access to your home or tenancy information.
2. Write a specific accommodation request and identify an accessible way for the landlord to respond.
3. Provide a reasonable response date, especially when a notice, inspection, or appointment is approaching.
4. Discuss alternatives with the landlord and keep a record of the conversation.
5. Seek help from the appropriate New Brunswick human rights or residential tenancy service if the issue remains unresolved.

Help and Support / Resources

• New Brunswick Human Rights Commission for disability discrimination and accommodation information.
• New Brunswick residential tenancies information for tenant and landlord forms, rules, and service contacts.
• New Brunswick Human Rights Act for the provincial statutory framework.
• Find rental homes across Canada on Houseme when searching for rental listings.

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1. [1] New Brunswick Human Rights Act
2. [2] Government of New Brunswick residential tenancies information and forms