As a landlord of a single-family residence, you are, absolutely, required to comply with the Federal Fair Housing Act, which entails that you empower “reasonable accommodations” for not only disabled residents but, in fact, also for those who live with or are accompanying individuals with disabilities. However, what, assuredly, can be regarded as a “reasonable accommodation,” and how can you identify what would be considered “unreasonable”?
What is considered a reasonable accommodation?
For starters, “reasonable accommodation” can mean any physical changes made to a rental home. This might include basic modifications, such as lowering towel bars and light switches or incorporating a smoke alarm with flashing lights along with an audible alarm. In addition to that, the resident is typically responsible for the costs closely tied to carefully setting up and pulling out these accommodations.
Other than making physical accommodations to the residence, you might also be obligated to provide “reasonable accommodations” on the administrative side. As for example, if you have a resident with a mental disability that seriously affects their memory, they might request that you call them each month to simply remind them to pay their rent. This request would be considered reasonable.
What is considered an unreasonable accommodation?
Let’s dwell on an example of what might be deemed ‘unreasonable.’ A critical factor in this analysis is whether the requested accommodation would cause significant hardship for you as a housing provider. Such as, for instance, envision you own a two-story single-family rental home and received a request to install an elevator for a tenant with a physical disability. You could reasonably deny this request, as it would incorporate significant construction work and be costly.
An unreasonable accommodation request can also develop on the administrative side. For a case in point, if you own a single-family residence and come by a request from a potential resident with a mental impairment seeking for you to call them each morning and evening to actually 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 know the difference between reasonable and unreasonable accommodations under the Federal Fair Housing Act. Attentively supporting residents with disabilities is important, but landlords should also figure out their limits in connection with requests that may impose major burdens. By communicating openly and alertly accommodating within reasonable limits, landlords can create an inclusive environment while carefully safeguarding their interests.
Real Property Management Fairmate ascertains well the Fair Housing Act and how it significantly affects you as a single-family homeowner in Arcadia and nearby. We can immensely help you resolutely understand these rules to ensure compliance when renting to individuals with disabilities. If you want to check out more info, please contact us online or at 626-691-9749.
Originally Published on May 11, 2018
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.
