Landlords and Disabled Tenants: Knowing What to Do--from the editorial staff of CompleteLandlord.com

CHICAGO, March 20,2007 -- In a survey of more than 500 landlords, CompleteLandlord.com found that 75% want to learn more about Federal Fair Housing laws. To address this issue, the editorial team at CompleteLandlord.com devotes two articles in its March Landlord Profit Letter on how landlords can fulfill their responsibilities under the Fair Housing Act, and the Fair Housing Amendments Act. This is an important issue for the estimated 10 million small and medium-sized residential landlords in the United States who may not be familiar with their responsibilities under the law.

For example, many landlords don’t know that when showing a rental property to a prospective tenant, the law prohibits them from asking about illnesses or disabilities. Another example is if a landlord has several apartments available on the ground, second and third floors of a building. If he or she decides to show only the ground-floor units to someone in a wheelchair or on crutches, the landlord has committed “steering,” which is a violation of the law.

Along with physical barriers, person with disabilities often face negative stereotypes and prejudices that limit their housing options. Residential landlords need to understand their responsibilities. According to Peri Hughes, managing editor of CompleteLandlord.com, “Landlords and rental property owners have a duty under the Fair Housing Act to make reasonable modifications, at their own expense, to accommodate their disabled tenants. The law also requires landlords to allow disabled tenants to make reasonable modifications to a rental unit at their own expense.”

The following are some examples of modifications that may be requested by a disabled tenant:

• Special door handles or faucets for persons with limited hand use
• Kitchen appliances suitable for a blind tenant
• A ramp to allow wheelchair access to a raised living room
• Lower counter tops for a tenant who uses a wheelchair