As a landlord of a single-family residence, you are, for sure, required to comply with the Federal Fair Housing Act, which guides that you grant permission for “reasonable accommodations” for not only disabled residents but, aside from that, also for those who live with or are related closely to individuals with disabilities. But, however, what precisely should be looked upon as a “reasonable accommodation,” and how can you differentiate what would be considered “unreasonable”?
What is considered a reasonable accommodation?
Let’s start off by saying, “reasonable accommodation” can speak of whatever physical changes made to a rental home. This might include basic modifications, such as lowering towel bars and light switches or carefully furnishing a smoke alarm with flashing lights along with an audible alarm. More than that, the resident is typically responsible for the costs closely related to installing and taking away these accommodations.
In conjunction with making physical accommodations to the residence, you may likewise be called to provide “reasonable accommodations” on the administrative side. Like, for instance, if you have a resident with a mental disability that terribly 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 mull over an example of what might be deemed ‘unreasonable.’ A fundamental key factor in this review is whether the requested accommodation would cause significant hardship for you as a housing provider. By way of example, straightforwardly 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 need significant construction work and be costly.
An unreasonable accommodation request can also actually arise on the administrative side. By way of illustration, if you own a single-family residence and get a request from a potential resident with a mental impairment requesting you to call them each and every morning and evening at an opportune time, to 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 determine the difference between reasonable and unreasonable accommodations under the Federal Fair Housing Act. Earnestly supporting residents with disabilities is indispensable, but landlords should also properly recognize their limits in the matter of requests that may impose extensive burdens. By communicating openly and properly accommodating within reasonable limits, landlords can create an inclusive environment while intently safeguarding their interests.
Real Property Management Republic earnestly understands the Fair Housing Act and how it, in fact, affects you as a single-family homeowner in Cypress and nearby. We can assuredly help you intently understand these rules to ensure compliance when renting to individuals with disabilities. If you want to know more pertinent info, please contact us online or at 281-362-5001.
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.
