As the owner of rental property, it is possible that you are concerned about complying with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). But, before you make any costly renovations to your investment(s), it is important to know exactly how and where this law may apply to you.
First, the Americans with Disabilities Act, which is also typically referred to simply as the ADA, prohibits discrimination based on an individual’s disability. And within the ADA legislation, it is required that “businesses provide accommodations to persons with disabilities and access that is equal or similar to that available to the general public.”
That being said, though, the ADA applies to public accommodations, which includes restaurants, hotels, and shops, as well as government-owned housing, such as dormitory rooms at a college or university.
In addition, while the Americans with Disabilities Act is inclusive of multi-family properties, it does not apply to the actual dwelling units within those properties, but only to the areas of “public accommodation.”
As an example, this can include the leasing / rental office, as well as a community room, provided that this space is open to more than just the residents of the property and their guests.
Likewise, the law would also apply to the parking area(s) of a leasing office, meaning that there are a certain number of accessible parking spots that are available to those who have disabilities. In this case, ensuring that spots are accessible to vans with lifts, there should be at least eight feet across.
There are numerous items that need to be kept in mind as the owner of rental property. Complying with the law, along with managing tenants and maintaining property, can be time consuming.
In order to open up more of your time so that you can spend it focusing on other things, you could consider working with a property manager. For more details on how a property manager can fit into your rental real estate business, give us a call today.