As a landlord of a single-family residence, you are, surely, required to comply with the Federal Fair Housing Act, which obligates you to give permission for “reasonable accommodations” for not only disabled residents but, certainly, also for those who live with or are closely associated with individuals with disabilities. Still what, evidently, can be deemed as a “reasonable accommodation,” and how can you figure out what would be considered “unreasonable”?
What is considered a reasonable accommodation?
In the first place, “reasonable accommodation” can suggest any physical changes made to a rental home. This might include basic modifications, such as lowering towel bars and light switches or adding a smoke alarm with flashing lights along with an audible alarm. On top of that, the resident is typically responsible for the costs closely connected with carefully putting up and taking away these accommodations.
Together with making physical accommodations to the residence, you could also be required to provide “reasonable accommodations” on the administrative side. By way of illustration, if you have a resident with a mental disability that really affects their memory, they might request that you call them each month to, in a timely manner, remind them to pay their rent. This request would be considered reasonable.
What is considered an unreasonable accommodation?
Let’s give some thought to an example of what might be deemed ‘unreasonable.’ A primary key factor in this deliberation is whether the requested accommodation would cause significant hardship for you as a housing provider. Such as, for illustration, consider 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 include significant construction work and be costly.
An unreasonable accommodation request can also emerge on the administrative side. For instance, if you own a single-family residence and find a request from a potential resident with a mental impairment requesting you to call them each and every morning and evening to suitably 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 find out the difference between reasonable and unreasonable accommodations under the Federal Fair Housing Act. Heedfully supporting residents with disabilities is fundamental, but landlords should also be aware of their limits relating to requests that may impose grave burdens. By communicating openly and mindfully accommodating within reasonable limits, landlords can create an inclusive environment while resolutely safeguarding their interests.
Real Property Management Seacoast New Hampshire meticulously understands the Fair Housing Act and how it hugely affects you as a single-family homeowner in Rochester and nearby. We can help you earnestly understand these rules to ensure compliance when renting to individuals with disabilities. If you want to ascertain more pertinent info, please contact us online or at 603-343-2202.
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.
