As a Garner landlord with a single-family residence, you must acquiesce with the Federal Fair Housing Act’s demand to permit ‘reasonable accommodations’ not only to disabled residents but also to residents who dwell with or are related with disabled individuals. However, what is ‘reasonable accommodation’, and what would ‘unreasonable’ be?
To start with, ‘reasonable accommodation’ may be for the physical components of the rental home, and might include basic alterations, such as lowering towel bars and light switches, or a smoke alarm that has flashing lights in addition to an audible alarm. Moreover, the resident would give payment for both the installation and removal of these accommodations.
Along with accommodations to the physical aspects of the residence, you may be asked to offer ‘reasonable accommodation’ on the administrative side. For example, you might have a resident with a mental disability that affects their memory. This resident might appeal for you to call each month to prompt them to pay the rent. This would be taken into account as reasonable.
Now let’s regard an example of what might be reckoned ‘unreasonable’. One of the key considerations in this respect is whether the accommodation would impose hardship on you as a housing provider. For example, suppose you own a two-story single-family rental house and receive a request that you install an elevator for a person with a physical disability. This could be rejected as it would require significant construction and amount to a great deal.
An unreasonable accommodation demand could emerge on the administrative side as well. Suppose you own a single-family residence and receive a request from a possible resident with a mental impairment to call them each morning and evening to remind them to turn the exterior lights on at night and off in the morning. This could be deemed unreasonable and you as a landlord could reject this request.
Real Property Management Excellence is proficient in the Fair Housing Act requirements and how they are applicable to you as a Garner landlord with a single-family residence. We can help you handle these requirements to make sure that you are in obedience when renting to individuals with disabilities. Would you like to discover more? Please contact us online or call us at 919-827-1107 for more information.
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.
