Q: About two years ago my chiropractor advised me that daily soaks in a hot tub would be good for my medical condition. I installed a small hot tub on the patio of my townhouse and have been using it daily ever since. Last week I received a letter from the association demanding that I submit a “property modification request” form to the architectural committee for approval to keep my hot tub. Can they make me do this?

A: Yes. If your need for the hot tub is not obvious, the association can ask for verification that your condition qualifies as a disability. As with all things related to community associations, you must read the governing documents to see how they address the issue of property modifications. If the rules allow small or portable hot tubs, then you can just let the association know and move on with your life.

If the documents don’t address the issue, you’ll need to fill out the paperwork and submit the request. The association is required to make reasonable accommodations to account for your disability. But it must balance this with the needs of the other residents.

-- Tribune News Service