Understanding Reasonable Accommodation for Disabled Renters

As a landlord of a single-family residence, you are, as a matter of fact, required to comply with the Federal Fair Housing Act, which decrees that you give assent to “reasonable accommodations” for not only disabled residents but, in actuality, also for those who live with or are explicitly related to individuals with disabilities. Be that as it may, what, without doubt, can be accounted for as a “reasonable accommodation,” and how can you tell apart what would be considered “unreasonable”?

What is considered a reasonable accommodation?

Let’s start off by saying, “reasonable accommodation” can signify any physical changes made to a rental home. This might include basic modifications, such as lowering towel bars and light switches or properly putting up a smoke alarm with flashing lights along with an audible alarm. Aside from that, the resident is typically responsible for the costs linked to integrating and pulling out these accommodations.

Along with making physical accommodations to the residence, you may likewise be obliged to provide “reasonable accommodations” on the administrative side. Such as, for example, if you have a resident with a mental disability that significantly affects their memory, they might request that you call them each month to rightly remind them to pay their rent. This request would be considered reasonable.

What is considered an unreasonable accommodation?

Let’s ponder on an example of what might be deemed ‘unreasonable.’ An indispensable factor in this deliberation is whether the requested accommodation would cause significant hardship for you as a housing provider. For instance, easily imagine you own a two-story single-family rental home and receive a request to install an elevator for a tenant with a physical disability. You could reasonably deny this request, as it would require significant construction work and be costly.

An unreasonable accommodation request can also start on the administrative side. For instance, if you own a single-family residence and lay hold a request from a potential resident with a mental impairment seeking for you to call them each morning and evening to easily remind them to turn the exterior lights on at night and off in the morning, this request could be deemed unreasonable. As a landlord, you would have the right to deny this request.

Landlords must appreciate clearly the difference between reasonable and unreasonable accommodations under the Federal Fair Housing Act. Absolutely supporting residents with disabilities is indispensable, but landlords should also fathom well their limits when it comes to requests that may impose critically grave burdens. By communicating openly and definitely accommodating within reasonable limits, landlords can create an inclusive environment while alertly safeguarding their interests.

Real Property Management Elevate earnestly understands the Fair Housing Act and how it truly affects you as a single-family homeowner in Kingfisher and nearby. We can assuredly help you intently understand these rules to ensure compliance when renting to individuals with disabilities. If you want to get more essential info, please contact us online or at 405-876-7611.