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 easily attract both the elderly and/or tenants who use wheelchairs, walkers, canes, and more.
Portland property managers recognize 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 various no-sweat ideas to make your property more accessible to those with mobility challenges.
1. Floors
Carpeting can be real trouble for people who use wheelchairs, canes, or walkers, but so can slippery hard flooring. Exactly why, when it’s time to replace the flooring in your rental home, you should select 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 more appealing to a wider range of tenants.
2. Entryway
One of the serious obstacles that people with mobility challenges face is a doorway that is too narrow. As you iron out everything for your next set of property improvements, consider replacing your entry door (and possibly the interior doors) with wider, more wheelchair-friendly versions. Likewise, lever door knobs are better for people with limited mobility than round knobs. It’s a no-sweat project, but really one that will make a big difference to a disabled tenant.
3. Bathroom
The bathroom holds several drawbacks for disabled tenants. The fixtures you usually see there were not created with them in mind. But as a matter of fact, you can 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’ve decided to renovate, try picking out a walk-in tub or a shower with a lower threshold. In addition, toilets tend to be too low to the ground for many disabled people. When it’s time to replace your toilet, pick one that is somewhat taller. Both of these quick changes can help make your rental much more accessible to all.
4. Kitchen
The kitchen is another setting where challenges abound for people with limited mobility. There are a lot of things there that would make it harder for them. For instance, most standard appliances and countertops are too tall for people in wheelchairs to reach comfortably. If you’re remodeling your rental kitchen anyway, look into providing 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
Another aspect of the home design that is actually quite easy to alter is the closet rods and light switches in your bedroom. 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.
Would you like to have more recommendations as to how to make your rental appeal to quality tenants? Real Property Management Shoreline can absolutely 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.
