As a landlord of a single-family residence, you are, without doubt, required to comply with the Federal Fair Housing Act, which necessitates that you enable “reasonable accommodations” for not only disabled residents but, on the other hand, also for those who live with or are related to individuals with disabilities. Though what, certainly, can be considered as a “reasonable accommodation,” and how can you detect what would be considered “unreasonable”?
What is considered a reasonable accommodation?
First and foremost, “reasonable accommodation” can indicate any physical changes made to a rental home. This might include basic modifications, such as lowering towel bars and light switches or furnishing a smoke alarm with flashing lights along with an audible alarm. Also, the resident is typically responsible for the costs closely linked to properly installing and stripping away these accommodations.
Besides making physical accommodations to the residence, you might be also required to provide “reasonable accommodations” on the administrative side. As an example, if you have a resident with a mental disability that certainly affects their memory, they might request that you call them each month to, timely, 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 integrate significant construction work and be costly.
An unreasonable accommodation request can also take place on the administrative side. By way of example, if you own a single-family residence and encounter a request from a potential resident with a mental impairment demanding that you 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 get the difference between reasonable and unreasonable accommodations under the Federal Fair Housing Act. Meticulously supporting residents with disabilities is crucial, but landlords should also perceive their limits concerning requests that may impose huge burdens. By communicating openly and meticulously accommodating within reasonable limits, landlords can create an inclusive environment while appropriately safeguarding their interests.
Real Property Management Metro Detroit grasps well the Fair Housing Act and how it definitely affects you as a single-family homeowner in Troy and nearby. We can considerably help you suitably understand these rules to ensure compliance when renting to individuals with disabilities. If you want to find out more, please contact us online or at 248-808-6550.
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.
