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 openly invite both the elderly and tenants who use wheelchairs, walkers, canes and more.
Essex property managers are aware 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 right (and more profitable) option would be to keep accessibility in mind when you update your property. Decide on choices that will interest disabled or elderly renters. Here are various no-sweat ideas to make your property more accessible to those with mobility challenges.
1. Floors
Carpeting can be tough 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 provides great traction and won’t snag on the ends of canes and walkers. The right flooring can definitely make your rental a lot 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 plan your next set of property improvements, consider replacing your entry door (and possibly the interior doors) with a wider, more wheelchair-friendly version. Moreover, lever doorknobs are more suitable for people with limited mobility than round knobs. It’s a rather piece-of-cake project, yet it will make a big difference to a disabled tenant.
3. Bathroom
The bathroom holds lots of impediments for disabled tenants. The regular fixtures present there were not made with them in mind. But, in fact, you can easily make your bathrooms more accessible by upgrading your shower or tub or your toilet. For instance, 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. However, toilets tend to be too low to the ground for many disabled people. When it’s time to replace your toilet, pick one that is somewhat taller. Both of these upgrades can help make your rental more and more accessible to all.
4. Kitchen
The kitchen is another site where challenges abound for people with limited mobility. There are a lot of things there that would make it harder for them. As an illustration, most standard appliances and countertops are too tall for people in wheelchairs to reach with comfort. 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
Various aspects of the home design can be changed easily. In the bedroom, it would easily be the closet rods and light switches. Both are generally too high for people in wheelchairs or with limited mobility to reach with ease. By simply installing closet rods closer to the floor and lowering the light switches, you can improve the quality of life of your tenants.
Would you like to have more recommendations as to how to make your rental appeal to quality tenants? Real Property Management Sterling can certainly help! Contact us online today to learn more about all the great services we offer property owners and landlords.
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