As a landlord of a single-family residence, you are, unquestionably, required to comply with the Federal Fair Housing Act, which commands that you warrant to allow “reasonable accommodations” for not only disabled residents but, keep in mind, also for those who live with or are closely related to individuals with disabilities. Except, what should be considered as a “reasonable accommodation,” and how can you distinguish what would be considered “unreasonable”?
What is considered a reasonable accommodation?
From the get-go, “reasonable accommodation” can point to physical changes made to a rental home. This might include basic modifications, such as lowering towel bars and light switches or installing a smoke alarm with flashing lights along with an audible alarm. Likewise, the resident is typically responsible for the costs related closely to carefully furnishing and pulling out these accommodations.
Along with making physical accommodations to the residence, you may also be called to provide “reasonable accommodations” on the administrative side. By way of example, if you have a resident with a mental disability that badly affects their memory, they might request that you call them each month to, at a proper time, remind them to pay their rent. This request would be considered reasonable.
What is considered an unreasonable accommodation?
Let’s check an example of what might be deemed ‘unreasonable.’ A principal factor in this consideration is whether the requested accommodation would cause significant hardship for you as a housing provider. Like, for instance, distinctly imagine 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 compose significant construction work and be costly.
An unreasonable accommodation request can also come up on the administrative side. Such as, for instance, if you own a single-family residence and lay hold a request from a potential resident with a mental impairment seeking for you to call them each morning and evening to conveniently 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. Intently supporting residents with disabilities is indispensable, but landlords should also take into account their limits in reference to requests that may impose tremendous burdens. By communicating openly and conscientiously accommodating within reasonable limits, landlords can create an inclusive environment while earnestly safeguarding their interests.
Real Property Management DC Metro intently understands the Fair Housing Act and how it really affects you as a single-family homeowner in Columbia Heights and nearby. We can largely help you thoroughly understand these rules to ensure compliance when renting to individuals with disabilities. If you want to know a bit more, please contact us online or at 202-269-0303.
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.
