As a landlord of a single-family residence, you are, really, required to comply with the Federal Fair Housing Act, which demands that you authorize “reasonable accommodations” for not only disabled residents but, at the same time, also for those who live with or are connected to individuals with disabilities. Although, what expressly counts as a “reasonable accommodation,” and how can you find out what would be considered “unreasonable”?
What is considered a reasonable accommodation?
Before anything else, “reasonable accommodation” can pertain to physical changes made to a rental home. This might include basic modifications, such as lowering towel bars and light switches or providing a smoke alarm with flashing lights along with an audible alarm. Likewise, the resident is typically responsible for the costs closely linked with carefully installing and pulling out these accommodations.
Not to mention making physical accommodations to the residence, you might also need to provide “reasonable accommodations” on the administrative side. As an illustration, if you have a resident with a mental disability that actually 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 contemplate an example of what might be deemed ‘unreasonable.’ An essential factor in this review is whether the requested accommodation would cause significant hardship for you as a housing provider. For a case in point, picture 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 each morning and evening to, at an opportune 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 Realevate Specialists know well the Fair Housing Act and how it largely affects you as a single-family homeowner in Temecula and nearby. We can completely help you carefully understand these rules to ensure compliance when renting to individuals with disabilities. If you want to discover more, please contact us online or at 858-997-2100/951-461-0100.
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.
