Every American citizen is entitled to their basic rights within the United States, a country known for its commitment to equality and opportunity. These rights are designed to ensure that every individual has an equal chance to pursue their dreams and lead a fulfilling life.
Similarly, landlords and tenants also possess certain rights and responsibilities, established to maintain a fair and balanced relationship. These rights and responsibilities exist to prevent any party from exploiting or taking advantage of the other. One crucial responsibility of landlords or property owners is to ensure that their rental properties are accessible and functional for individuals with disabilities. Making rental properties accessible for tenants with disabilities is not only morally right but also a legal obligation.
In this blog, we will discuss why landlords must adapt to the needs of tenants that have disabilities and also discuss how they can do it.
Why should landlords adapt to a disabled tenant’s needs?
1. Legal Obligations: The Fair Housing Act was established with the aim of fostering equality, inclusivity, and equal opportunity within the housing market. This legislation strictly prohibits any form of discrimination against tenants, emphasizing that landlords and property managers must refrain from engaging in discriminatory practices. Due to this Act and other laws and regulations, landlords are obligated to make reasonable modifications to their properties to ensure that individuals with disabilities can reside without facing unnecessary challenges or obstacles.
2. Equal opportunity: Landlords encounter a diverse range of clients, including individuals with disabilities. If landlords fail to make necessary modifications to their properties, these potential tenants may find it challenging or even impossible to reside in such houses and may choose not to rent such housing facilities. To ensure equal opportunities for all prospective tenants to rent the property, it is crucial for landlords to proactively modify their properties, ensuring that individuals with disabilities can comfortably live without encountering unnecessary difficulties or barriers.
3. Expanding Customer Base and Minimizing Losses: The houses or apartments that landlords own are like the products from which they earn money. If these rental properties remain unoccupied, landlords are unable to generate income from them, while still incurring expenses for maintenance and other associated costs. This situation leads to a decrease in their net income and contributes to financial losses.
If landlords employ biased and discriminatory advertisements to promote their property or if their properties are unsuitable for prospective tenants with disabilities, then their customer base will diminish, costs will increase, and the process of finding new tenants becomes more challenging. Conversely, if landlords advertise their properties without any form of intentional or unintentional discrimination and make appropriate modifications to accommodate tenants with disabilities, they can expand their customer base, attract tenants more quickly, reduce costs, and minimize losses.
How can landlords make their properties suitable for potential tenants with disabilities?
To enhance the mobility and accessibility of disabled tenants, landlords should implement several measures. These include constructing stairs with handrails that are not steep or high, installing ramps to accommodate wheelchairs, ensuring wide doors for easy passage, positioning switches at reachable heights for wheelchair users, incorporating Braille on elevator buttons and other relevant areas for individuals with visual impairments, and designing showers, kitchens, and bathrooms in a manner that facilitates use for people with disabilities. Creating dedicated pathways within the housing complex for disabled individuals to navigate important areas is also essential. Landlords should allow service animals and emotional support animals on their property, recognizing their significance for people with disabilities. Regular maintenance and checks should be conducted to ensure that tenants with disabilities do not encounter any issues.
Conclusion
Landlords have a legal and moral obligation to adapt to the needs of tenants with disabilities. By ensuring that their rental properties are accessible and functional, landlords not only comply with laws and regulations but also create equal opportunities for all individuals to enjoy suitable housing. Making reasonable modifications, such as installing ramps, handrails, and accessible features, not only expands the customer base for landlords but also minimizes losses and enhances the overall tenant experience. By embracing inclusivity and prioritizing the needs of disabled tenants, landlords contribute to a more equitable and thriving housing market.
