Accessible rentals are most favored now than ever before. It’s true that it may be a nuisance to make alterations to your property to accommodate people with limited mobility, but the truth is, you can widen your potential tenant pool and give your rental home a competitive edge. By making your property more accessible, you openly invite both the elderly and tenants who use wheelchairs, walkers, canes and more.
Burlington 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 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 a couple of easy ideas to set up and make your property more accessible to those with mobility challenges.
1. Floors
Carpeting can be an issue for people who use wheelchairs, canes, or walkers, but so can slippery hard flooring. Thus, eventually when it comes time to replace the flooring in your rental home, opt for 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 totally more appealing to a wider range of tenants.
2. Entryway
One of the bigger 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. 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 various issues for disabled tenants. The fixtures that you typically find there were not designed to accommodate them. But, in fact, you can easily make your bathrooms more accessible by upgrading your shower or tub or 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. However, 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 improvements can help make your rental a lot 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. 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, think about placing ADA-height appliances and counter space. With quite a bit of creativity and careful planning, you can turn your rental property’s kitchen into 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 highly improve the quality of life for your tenants.
Are you looking for more practical tips with regard to how to make your rental appeal to quality tenants? Real Property Management Teyata can indeed help! Contact us online today to learn more about all the great services we offer property owners and landlords.
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