Accessible rentals are on-demand now more than ever before. Although it may look like a bother and a huge hassle to create modifications to your property to accommodate people with limited mobility, 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 easily attract both the elderly and/or tenants who use wheelchairs, walkers, canes, and more.
Staunton property managers understand that federal law states you can’t discriminate against people based on their accessibility requirements. So, 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 an issue 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 presents excellent 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. Likewise, lever door knobs are really better for people with limited mobility than round knobs. It’s an easy project, but definitely, one that will make a big difference to a disabled tenant.
3. Bathroom
The bathroom holds several drawbacks for disabled tenants. The fixtures that are typically installed there were not made to make it easier for them. But, in fact, you can easily make your bathrooms more accessible by upgrading your shower or tub or your toilet. Right now, the standard tub is too high for people with limited mobility to step over. If you have already decided to renovate, then look into using 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 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 site where challenges abound for people with limited mobility. There are many things that make it 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 taking advantage of ADA-height appliances and counter space. With a bit of creativity and planning, you can effectively make your rental property’s kitchen one of the most accessible parts of the house.
5. Bedroom
There are other things you can do for your home design that is really no-sweat. You can change your closet rods and light switches. Both are mostly too high for people in wheelchairs or with limited mobility to reach well. 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 Summit can definitely help! Contact us online today to learn more about all the great services we offer property owners and landlords.
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