Apartments for the Disabled

If you or someone that you know are disabled and have searched for an apartment, you may realize that it can be tough to find the right apartment complex. Before you go out looking for apartments, you should get familiar with your rights. By doing so, your search for apartments will come easier and you will find a place that you suit you best. The two main laws you should be familiar with are the Americans with Disability Act and the Fair Housing Act. These laws protect you when it comes to renting housing. The Americans with Disability Act calls for landlords to provide disabled people easy access to their property. The Fair Housing Act bars landlords from discriminating against disabled people looking to rent property.

Once you are familiar with these laws, you can begin searching for apartments. There are a number of websites that will help you find apartments. One of them is Rent.com and another is apartments.com. It is very important that you actually go see the apartments that you plan on renting. You may want to prepare a checklist of things that you are looking for. For example, the doors should be wide enough if you are in a wheelchair. Switches and knobs should be easily accessible to you and not too high. Hallways should have enough room and bathrooms should be large enough to accommodate you. If there is something that you want to change about the apartment, you should ask the landlord beforehand.

Another important feature to look at when selecting an apartment is the location of the community. The community should be close to shopping plazas or transportation. Make sure the sidewalks are adequate so that you can traverse them with ease. For people that are blind or deaf, be sure the crosswalks are appropriately fitted with equipment to help you cross.

Although it may seem that finding apartments for disabled people is hard, you will realize that it is not too bad if you know your rights and the questions to ask. With these in hand, you should be able to find your dream apartment in no time.