Requesting an accommodation when you are not the tenant

The duty follows the dwelling

The accommodation is owed so that a person with a disability has equal opportunity to use and enjoy a dwelling. A spouse, partner, adult child or lawful occupant living there is such a person, and the request can be made on their behalf by the tenant or by them.

Where it gets complicated

• If your occupancy itself is unauthorised, the request tends to surface that, and you can end up defending your presence rather than the animal.
• The provider will usually want the request to come through, or at least with the agreement of, the named tenant, because that is who they contract with.
• Responsibility for damage is likely to fall on the leaseholder under the lease, whatever the arrangement between you.

The practical route

Have the named tenant make the request, attaching the documentation, and say plainly that the accommodation is for an occupant of the unit. That avoids a side argument about standing and puts it in front of the person the provider already deals with.