Fair Housing Act; investing in rental modifications can help save for homeownership

 September is the anniversary of the Fair House Act Amendment that finally included disabilities in 1998. If you are renting and have mobility impairments, you need to know what changes you can request to meet your disability needs under the FHA. In this episode, you will learn about: 

• What type of homes does FHA cover?
• What is the difference between Accommodation and a Modification? 
• Examples of both an Accommodation and a Modification?
•  How to get your landlord to pay for modifications?

Getting Modifications paid for is difficult because landlords are not required by the FHA. I talk about understanding universal design can help you persuade to get a landlord to pay for the modifications and why. I also talk about the financial you will likely face if you want modifications. 

Finally, instead of thinking about just modifying your rental home, think of it as an investment into your new home that you will buy.I will talk about the need to invest in buying what I call, “portable modifications.” Some of the portable modifications I will discuss: 

1.  Kitchen; portable dishwasher, fog-free mirror over the stovetop, pull-down shelving
2. Bathroom; bathtub grab bars, built foldable tub bench seat, suctioned grab bars, tilt mirror,    
3.  Interior; Portable ramp for an uneven floor plan, temporary wooden floor
4. Smart; lighting and thermostat

When you are done, don’t forget to visit my blog, check out my book, and get some freebies at www.horizontalhouses.com .  The transcript of this episode is a blog post with links to discussed modifications! Got questions? Email at accessibilityishome@gmail.com