If you rent out your residential property in the Toledo region of Ohio, you must make certain that you comply with the federal Fair Housing Act. For the uninitiated, it is a tricky landscape to navigate, but failure to comply, even accidentally, can result in serious consequences.
The Fair Housing Act is available online for all property owners to study. However, if you find it confusing or full of language you cannot understand well, you may need assistance from a real estate law attorney. This has many benefits, one of the most important being keeping you out of legal trouble. A common issue many landlords encounter involves not making “reasonable accommodations” for disabled tenants. Examples of such accommodations include:
- Assigning an appropriate parking space for use by disabled tenants
- Giving tenants extra keys for use by an aide or a family member
- Providing any relevant notices to a disabled tenant’s aide (e.g. tenant rules)
- Making exceptions to your “no pet” policy for disabled tenants in need of a service animal
When your disabled tenants request reasonable accommodations, it is wise to keep careful records to protect yourself from real estate law difficulties. If you cannot meet the tenant’s request, it is also wise to offer the tenant a reasonable alternative. This is a good way to avoid potential legal action while making sure all your tenant’s needs are met.
Another way for you to avoid trouble and still make sure all your tenants are happy is to seek legal guidance from a real estate law attorney. This ensures that neither you nor your disabled tenants experience a landlord-tenant dispute, which can be costly for both parties.