As a landlord of a single-family residence, you are, actually, required to comply with the Federal Fair Housing Act, which calls that you approve “reasonable accommodations” for not only disabled residents but, as a matter of fact, also for those who live with or are affiliated with individuals with disabilities. Still, we can ask, what can plainly count as a “reasonable accommodation,” and how can you check out what would be considered “unreasonable”?
What is considered a reasonable accommodation?
Primarily, “reasonable accommodation” can apply to physical changes made to a rental home. This might include basic modifications, such as lowering towel bars and light switches or putting up a smoke alarm with flashing lights along with an audible alarm. In addition to this, the resident is typically responsible for the costs directly related to properly setting up and taking out these accommodations.
On top of making physical accommodations to the residence, you might also be asked to provide “reasonable accommodations” on the administrative side. As an instance, if you have a resident with a mental disability that certainly affects their memory, they might request that you call them each month to properly remind them to pay their rent. This request would be considered reasonable.
What is considered an unreasonable accommodation?
Let’s think about an example of what might be deemed ‘unreasonable.’ A vital key factor in this examination is whether the requested accommodation would cause significant hardship for you as a housing provider. Take one example, suppose 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 cover significant construction work and be costly.
An unreasonable accommodation request can also come about on the administrative side. To cite an instance, if you own a single-family residence and obtain a request from a potential resident with a mental impairment seeking for you to call them every single morning and evening to, at a proper time, 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 ascertain the difference between reasonable and unreasonable accommodations under the Federal Fair Housing Act. Properly supporting residents with disabilities is critical, but landlords should also grasp well their limits with respect to requests that may impose heavy burdens. By communicating openly and properly accommodating within reasonable limits, landlords can create an inclusive environment while correctly safeguarding their interests.
Real Property Management Azalea City (aka Instant Equity Mobile) knows well the Fair Housing Act and how it largely affects you as a single-family homeowner in Tillmans Corner and nearby. We can significantly help you suitably understand these rules to ensure compliance when renting to individuals with disabilities. If you want to discover more, please contact us online or at 251-345-6224.
We are pledged to the letter and spirit of U.S. policy for the achievement of equal housing opportunity throughout the Nation. See Equal Housing Opportunity Statement for more information.
