Accessible rentals are more and more popular now than ever before. Despite the fact that it may quite seem like a burden to update 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 are opening it to the elderly and tenants who use wheelchairs, walkers, canes, and more.
Chamblee 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 ideal (and more profitable) option could be to keep accessibility in mind as you update your property and pick options and possibilities that will truly attract disabled or 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. Consequently, when the time is right to replace the flooring in your rental home, it would be better to install 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 quickly become more appealing to a wider range of tenants.
2. Entryway
One of the top 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. Indeed, lever doorknobs are more suitable for people with limited mobility than round knobs. It’s quite a simple project, nevertheless, it is one that will make a big difference to a disabled tenant.
3. Bathroom
The bathroom holds various issues for disabled tenants. The usual fixtures you find there are not designed with them in mind. But really, you can simply make your bathrooms more accessible by upgrading your shower or tub and 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. On the flip side, 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 site where challenges abound for people with limited mobility. There are many things that make it 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, think of using ADA-height appliances and counter space. With a bit of resourcefulness and planning, you can enable and make your rental property’s kitchen one of the most accessible parts of the house.
5. Bedroom
Home design could prove to be challenging but, as for the bedroom, there are a couple of projects that are easy to do– 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 substantially 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 Greenway can totally help! Contact us online today to learn more about all the great services we offer property owners and landlords.
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