For smaller properties, especially senior properties, that may have to use 100% sampling, certain circumstances will skew the resulting UA up or down, e.g., residents spending weeks or months in a hospital, residents spending (colder) months with relatives, residents with medical conditions who need their apartments to be exceptionally warm, cold, or where they use medical equipment that uses a lot of energy. In most cases, the resident has not requested a reasonable accommodation to increase the UA.

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Smaller properties will necessarily require a proportionately larger sample size (including 100% sampling) in order to ensure statistically valid results. Management should encourage residents with medical equipment who have extraordinary utility bills to seek a reasonable accommodation for a higher utility allowance.