Practice and Disclosures, 25% of the examination
Reasonable modification
A physical change to premises that a landlord must permit for a person with a disability, normally at the tenant's expense.
A modification changes the property, such as installing a grab rail or a ramp, and the tenant usually pays. A reasonable accommodation changes a rule, policy, practice or service, such as waiving a no-pets policy for an assistance animal, and the landlord bears that cost. Confusing the two is the most common error in this topic.
What this is confused with
The exam rarely asks for a definition. It describes a situation and offers two terms that both sound plausible.
Reasonable accommodation
An accommodation changes a rule. A modification changes the building.
See it in a question
One question from Practice and Disclosures, so the term lands in the context the exam uses it in.
A salesperson receives a $5,000 good-faith deposit check made payable to the seller. What must happen to it?
Written to DRE's published topic list. Not a real examination question, since reproducing those is a misdemeanour under B&P Code section 123.