Accessible rentals are more sought-after now than ever before. Despite the fact that it may seem to be a fuss to create and make updates to your property to accommodate people with limited mobility, the fact is you can widen your potential tenant pool and give your rental home a competitive edge. By making your property more accessible, you are opening it to the elderly and tenants who use wheelchairs, walkers, canes, and more.
Pelham property managers understand that federal law states you can’t discriminate against people based on their accessibility requirements. But you could wait around until your tenant approaches you with an accommodation request. Or, the better (and more profitable) option may be to keep accessibility in mind as you update your property. When making choices, also consider the disabled and elderly renters. Here are some straightforward ideas to boost up and make your property more accessible to those with mobility challenges.
1. Floors
Carpeting can be difficult for people who use wheelchairs, canes, or walkers, but so can slippery hard flooring. This is exactly why, when it’s time to replace the flooring in your rental home, use a sturdy, low-pile carpet. A low-pile carpet grants nice traction and won’t snag on the ends of canes and walkers. The right flooring can make your rental easily more appealing to a wider range of tenants.
2. Entryway
One of the greatest obstacles that people with mobility challenges face is a doorway that is too narrow. As you gear up with your next set of property improvements, consider replacing your entry door (and possibly the interior doors) with wider, more wheelchair-friendly versions. Indeed, lever doorknobs are more suitable for people with limited mobility than round knobs. It’s a simple project, although one that will make a big difference to a disabled tenant.
3. Bathroom
The bathroom holds a lot of real challenges for disabled tenants. The fixtures that you typically find there were not designed to accommodate them. But certainly, you can very easily make your bathrooms more accessible by upgrading your shower or tub and your toilet. Consider, for example, that the standard tub is too high for people with limited mobility to step over. If you’re set up to renovate, take into consideration applying a walk-in tub or a shower with a lower threshold. Furthermore, toilets tend to be too low to the ground for many disabled people. When it’s time to replace your toilet, use one that is a little taller. Both of these quick changes can help make your rental much more accessible to all.
4. Kitchen
The kitchen is another space where challenges abound for people with limited mobility. There are some things there that would make it harder for them. For example, most standard appliances and countertops are too tall for people in wheelchairs to reach easily. If you’re remodeling your rental kitchen anyway, then think about installing ADA-height appliances and counter space. With a little ingenuity and planning, you can really do a lot to make your rental property’s kitchen one of the most accessible parts of the house.
5. Bedroom
Home design could prove to be challenging but, as for the bedroom, there are a couple of projects that are easy to do– closet rods and light switches. Both are usually too high for people in wheelchairs or people with limited mobility to reach easily. By installing closet rods closer to the floor and lowering the light switches, you can essentially improve the quality of life for your tenants.
Do you want more tips on how to make your rental appeal to quality tenants? Real Property Management Victory can indeed help! Contact us online today to learn more about all the great services we offer property owners and landlords.
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.
