Accessible rentals are more sought after now than ever before. Though it may appear like a huge nuisance to bring about changes to your property to accommodate people with limited mobility, what is certain is that you can widen your potential tenant pool and give your rental home a competitive edge. By making your property more accessible, you easily attract the elderly and also the tenants who use wheelchairs, walkers, canes, and more.
Owasso property managers recognize that federal law states you can’t discriminate against people based on their accessibility requirements. You could wait around until your tenant approaches you with an accommodation request. Or, the appropriate (and more profitable) option would be to keep accessibility in mind as you update your property. And when you make decisions, think about who it would cater to the disabled and elderly renters. Here are some pretty simple ideas to make your property more accessible to those with mobility challenges.
1. Floors
Carpeting can be a concern 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 contributes good 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 set up 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 various issues for disabled tenants. The fixtures that are typically installed there were not made to make it easier for them. But really, you can simply make your bathrooms more accessible by upgrading your shower or tub and your toilet. Take, for example, the standard tub. It’s usually 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. Plus, toilets tend to be too low to the ground for many disabled people. When the time is right to replace your toilet, select one that is a bit taller. Both of these restorations can help make your rental more accessible to all.
4. Kitchen
The kitchen is another well-known area where challenges abound for people with limited mobility. There are a number of things that would make it a bit more difficult for them. As an example, most standard appliances, and countertops are too tall for people in wheelchairs to reach well. If you’re remodeling your rental kitchen anyway, look into providing ADA-height appliances and counter space. With some innovation and planning, you can set up and 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 with limited mobility to reach comfortably. By installing closet rods closer to the floor and lowering the light switches, you can highly improve the quality of life for your tenants.
Would you want more suggestions in connection with how to make your rental appeal to quality tenants? Real Property Management Tulsa 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.
