More Knowledge About Hud And Justice Department Release New Guidance On Fair Housing Act reasonab

New guidance released in March 2008 reinforced the right of persons with disabilities

to make reasonable modifications to their dwellings if a structural change to their dwelling or to a common area of the building or complex in which they live is needed so that they can fully enjoy the premises.

The guidance is designed to help housing providers and homeowners associations better understand their obligations and help persons with disabilities better understand their rights regarding the reasonable modifications provision of the federal Fair Housing Act (FHA).

The FHA prohibits discrimination in housing based on disability, race, color, religion, national origin, sex and background checks. HUD and DOJ share responsibility for enforcing the FHA.

One type of discrimination prohibited by the FHA is the refusal by housing providers or homeowner associations to permit a reasonable modification i.e., a structural alteration of existing premises, occupied or to be occupied by a person with a disability, when the modification may be necessary to afford the person full enjoyment of the premises.

Although the housing provider or homeowner association must permit the modification, the tenant (or prospective tenant) is responsible for paying the cost of the modification. Examples of reasonable modifications include widening doorways to make rooms more accessible to persons who use wheelchairs or installing a ramp to provide access to a public or common use area, such as a clubhouse.

The new guidelines, issued in the form of questions and answers, cover such topics as:

What is a reasonable modification?

Who must comply with the reasonable modification requirement?

Who is responsible for expenses associated with the upkeep or maintenance of a reasonable modification?

When and how should an individual request permission to make a modification?

What types of documents and assurances may a housing provider require regarding the modification before granting the modification?

What procedures are available to a person wishing to challenge a denial of a requested modification?

The guidelines and other background reports are available on the web sites of both HUD and the Department of Justice.

by: Walton Anderson

POST COMMENT

How The House Hold And Cleaning Can Be Done In A Better Way Sell a House Fast and Avoid Renting Your Home Back Think About How Long It Takes For a Plan to Sell and Rent Back Your House to Be Set Do You Really Need To Buy Some Best Modular House Aneka Tas Is Central Wholesale Market Bag Houses How To Ship Your Household Goods In Safe Way? Things To Consider Before Buying A Dog House Obtain Most Useful Information On South Africa House Construction and Components of Green House Building Top 5 Secrets of Selling House Fast Get Fast Cash by Selling Your House Finding my Dream House The Price of a new Solar Watt -- Can be Solar Power Effective To your House?