If you request modifications that involve structural changes to an apartment, the landlord must allow for them. What are reasonable modifications and accommodations? As discussed previously, the landlord has the right to ask you to restore the apartment if modifications were made. Unless specified, landlords or property managers should receive payments on time and receive compensation for any damage that the renter may have incurred, not including modifications. Landlords who rent to people with disabilities have many of the same rights as any landlord. In addition, landlords of public buildings such as an apartment building or complex must comply with the rules and laws set out by the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA). The Fair Housing Act prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities, and landlords must follow the rules and laws of the Act. What responsibilities and rights does my landlord have? Talk with the landlord about this and make sure all agreements are included in your lease. You can negotiate with the landlord to see if they can help financially, or perhaps they’ll decide to keep the apartment the way it is. You can negotiate with them and offer to pay, and if that’s the case, the landlord must comply and have the modifications made.Īnother thing to remember is that, once you leave, it’s your responsibility to disassemble any modifications made. Keep in mind that if you find an apartment that needs reasonable modifications like ramps, grab bars, wheelchair-accessible showers, modified counters, and accessible light switches and electrical outlets, the landlord is not required to pay for the modifications. They may ask for proof that you have one, but you have the right to withhold specific details about your disability. If the animal causes any damage to the property, you as the renter are responsible to pay for the damage.Ī landlord does not have the right to ask you what your disability is. If you have a service animal, the landlord can’t deny your animal. The renter has the right to request modifications to the apartment to accommodate their needs. The above laws let you rent without discrimination and request an accessible apartment. What are my rights as a renter with disabilities? While the ADA protects against discrimination in public places, it doesn’t necessarily cover residential housing like the Fair Housing Act does. In addition, the kitchen and bathroom must have a design that allows a wheelchair to maneuver through them.Ĭreated in 1990, the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) protects people with disabilities against discrimination in all public places, including schools, jobs, public settings, transportation, and private places that are open to the public. The act is aimed at providers of housing such as landlords and real estate companies to prevent these entities from not allowing you to rent or buy a house based on the above criteria.Īs of 1991, under the Fair Housing Amendments Act, new construction of select multifamily dwellings with four or more units must include these features: an accessible entrance, accessible common areas, doors wide enough to accommodate wheelchairs, accessible routes throughout the dwelling, light switches and electrical outlets that someone in a wheelchair can access, and grab bars in the bathroom. The act protects renters and buyers from several categories of discrimination: race, color, national origin, sex, familial status, and disabilities. Laws related to accessible housing and renters with disabilities All people with current or past disabilities are protected by federal laws. The definition also includes people who may have once had a disability that they no longer have, which is called a record of impairment or disability. Who is considered a person with disabilities?Īccording to the Americans With Disabilities Act National Network, someone who has a disability has one or more physical or mental impairments that include mobility, hearing, visual, or mental health issues that limit one or more life activities. Armed with the proper knowledge and understanding of what handicap-accessible means when it comes to accessible housing, you can ask the right questions when you start your search for an apartment. When you have a disability and you’re on the hunt for an accessible apartment, there are rules, laws, and resources to help you get an apartment.
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