Accessible Apartment Guide: Renting an Apartment with a Disability
The popular TV show Friends painted a picture of apartment living that many of us secretly aspire to: a group young adults figuring out life in a big city, each with a space that reflects their personality, and close friends just down the hall.
The reality is, people can still find a close-knit community and adorn an apartment with unique decor, but finding an apartment to meet individual needs, and particularly the needs of people with disabilities, can take a bit more consideration.
This comprehensive guide is designed to move beyond the basic checkboxes and explore the nuances of accessibility, the legal rights that protect disabled renters, and the practical modifications that can make apartment living a reality for people with disabilities.
What are the Benefits of Apartment Living?
When it comes to choosing a living space, there are many different styles to choose from: tiny homes, apartments, condos, and single-family homes are a few common options. Not only can apartments make an ideal living space for people with disabilities, but many people prefer them in comparrison to other living spaces for the following reasons:
- Size: Larger than a tiny home, but smaller than a house, an apartment can provide accessibility without the upkeep and maintenance of a home.
- Location: Often, apartments are closer to places like public transit hubs, medical facilities, or stores, making it easier to access everyday goods and services.
- Amenities: Shared amenities like a pool, fitness center, or community room are common in apartment complexes, allowing for social connection among residents.
- Reduced Maintenance and Upkeep: Residents are not responsible for lawn care, snow removal, or pool maintenance. In addition, most apartments have on-site maintenance, and some even offer a valet trash service.
What is an Accessible Apartment?
An accessible apartment is an apartment unit that is designed for people with disabilities. These units are often designed with wheelchair users in mind, though they can meet the needs of people with various disabilities.
Laws Protecting Disabled Apartment Renters
Two laws protect disabled people when renting an apartment: the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), and the Fair Housing Act (FHA):
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
The ADA mainly applies to spaces in an apartment complex that are open to the general public. It does not apply to individual apartment units, which are considered private residences.
Under the ADA, areas that anyone can access must be accessible. For example, a leasing office that prospective renters can visit must be ADA compliant. In contrast, areas that require a key, key fob, or proof of residence, such as individual apartments or resident‑only amenities, are generally not required to be ADA compliant.
Fair Housing Act (FHA)
The Fair Housing Act protects renters and homebuyers nationwide from discrimination and plays a larger role in private living spaces, including apartment units.
The FHA requires reasonable accommodations be provided to renters with disabilities. For example, if an apartment community assigns parking spaces, the complex is required to assign an accessible parking space to a resident with a disability as a reasonable accommodation, provided that individual has a valid accessible parking placard or license plate.
In some situations, the ADA and FHA overlap. Together, these laws help ensure that both common spaces and individual housing needs are addressed.
What Does a Wheelchair Accessible Apartment Look Like?
The following are required to make an apartment accessible to people with disabilities under the Fair Housing Act:
- Accessible Building Entrance on an Accessible Route: Every building must have at least one main entrance that is step-free. This accessible route must connect to important arrival points, such as parking, sidewalks, bus stops, or drop‑off zones.
- Accessible and Usable Public and Common Use Areas: Spaces shared by residents like lounges, mailrooms, gyms, and pools, must generally be accessible. The FHA requires accessible routes to these amenities, but it doesn’t require specialized equipment for residents to utilize these areas, unless the facility is open to the general public.
- Usable Doors: A minimum of 32 inches of clear width when the door is open at 90 degrees is required for exterior doors. Interior doors do not have to meet the same measurements as public-area doors, but they still must be wide enough to pass through with a mobility aid.
- Accessible Route into and through the Covered Unit: Residents must be able to get from outside their apartment building into their accessible apartment via an accessible route. In addition, within units accessible to people with disabilities, all rooms and secondary exterior doors leading to patios or balconies must be accessible from within the unit.
- Environmental controls in accessible locations: : Controls used daily such as light switches, electrical outlets, and thermostats must be easy to reach from a seated position.
- Reinforced Walls: In accessible apartments, bathroom walls must be reinforced so they are strong enough to support grab bars. Reinforcement is required around toilets, tubs, and showers. Grab bars do not have to be installed in accessible apartments by default, but residents who live in an accessible apartment can have them installed.
- Usable Kitchens and Bathrooms: These rooms must be laid out so a wheelchair user can maneuver and reach essential fixtures. The FHA requires 30-by-48-inch clear floor spaces centered at key appliances like sinks, stoves, and refrigerators, either from a forward or parallel approach. Bathrooms must allow enough space to enter, close the door, turn, and use the fixtures comfortably.
Are Wheelchair Accessible Apartments more Expensive?
No, wheelchair accessible apartments are not more expensive than comparable non-accessible units. Charging a disabled resident more for an accessible apartment, when other residents without disabilities pay a standard amount for a comparable space is illegal, and it goes against the Fair Housing Act (FHA).
We'll use a hypothetical example of two apartment residents: Adam and Jane. Adam lives in a non-accessible one-bedroom apartment in the city. He pays $1,500 a month in rent. Jane, a wheelchair user, lives next-door to Adam in a one-bedroom wheelchair accessible apartment. Jane and Adam rent comparable apartments, both one bedroom with similar layouts. Despite Jane's apartment being accessible she pays the same $1,500 in monthly rent as Adam. Under the Fair Housing Act, Jane cannot be charged more than Adam simply because her apartment is accessible.
Alternatively, Jane would be charged more than Adam if her apartment were not comparable. For example, if Jane rented a two bedroom apartment, she would be charged more per month because she is paying for more space than Adam, who is living in a one-bedroom apartment. However, she would not be charged more than other residents living in comparable two-bedroom apartments solely because of her accessibility needs.
Checklist: Finding a Wheelchair Accessible Apartment
- Start online: A simple google search of "apartments near me" or websites like Zillow, apartments.com, or rent.com can help you find a suitable apartment. Use filters for any non-negotiables like location, rent budget, pet policies, and in-unit laundry.
- Schedule an Apartment Tour: After narrowing your options, reach out to schedule tours of wheelchair accessible apartments.
- Touring the Space: When touring, you can bring tools like a tape measure to assess space constraints and accessibility. If you find anything in the unit that does not meet your needs, ask about possible modifications.
- Purchase Apartment essentials: After choosing your apartment and signing the lease, it's time to gather essentials like cookware, bedding, and décor. These essentials will help make your new space comfortable and uniquely yours.
- Move-In: Thoughtfully arrange your furniture and adaptive equipment can transform the space into one that easily accommodates your needs while also remaining inviting and functional. Enlist the help of family and friends as needed to help you move into your new space.
How to Make a Living Space Wheelchair Accessible
No matter where you call home, it's a worthwhile investment to make your living space accessible. Check out our related articles below for more tips to make a home accessible.
