As a Port St. John landlord with single-family properties, you must follow the Federal Fair Housing Act’s requirement to allow ‘reasonable accommodations’ to both disabled residents and residents who live with or are involved with people with disabilities. However, what is ‘reasonable accommodation’ and what would be ‘unreasonable’?
To begin with, ‘reasonable accommodation’ may be regarding physical elements of the rental home and might consist of basic adjustments, like lowering towel bars and light switches or a smoke alarm that has flashing lights in to supplement a loud alarm. Furthermore, the resident would shoulder the expenses for both the installation and removal of these accommodations.
In addition to accommodations to the physical components of the home, the resident might ask to be provided ‘reasonable accommodation’ on the administrative side. Say you have a resident with a mental disability that influences their memory. This resident may request that you call to remind them to pay the rent each month. This is considered reasonable.
At this point, let’s look at an instance where a request is considered ‘unreasonable’. One of the key concerns in this respect is whether the accommodation would make it hard on you as a housing provider. For example, imagine you have a two-story single-family rental property and receive a request that you put in an elevator for an individual with a physical disability. This can be rejected as it would necessitate major construction and can be very expensive.
An unreasonable accommodation request can appear on the administrative side as well. Let’s assume you own a single-family residence and get a request from a possible resident with a mental impairment to give them a call reminder every day to turn the exterior lights on at night and off in the morning. This can be declared unreasonable and you as a landlord have grounds to deny this request.
Real Property Management Brevard is very familiar with the Fair Housing Act requirements and how they concern you as a Port St. John landlord with a single-family residence. We can help you navigate these requirements to make certain that you are in compliance when renting to people with disabilities. Would you like to know more? For more information, please contact us online or call us at 321-610-8022.
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.
