Question

A broker manages a single-family home. Harry, a disabled person, wants to rent the property and wants to make alterations, including installing a ramp at the entrance, lowering the kitchen counters, and widening some of the doorways. He agrees to pay for the remodeling and restoring the premises at the end of the lease term. If the broker explains that the owner will not allow the alterations, would that violate the law?

A) Yes, it violates the law
B) No, it does not violate the law
C) It depends on the location
D) It depends on the lease agreement

Answer 1

Denying a disabled person the ability to make reasonable modifications at their own expense to a property they wish to rent, such as installing a ramp or lowering counters, generally violates the Fair Housing Act. Thus, the broker's explanation that the owner will not allow alterations is illegal.

Step-by-step explanation:

If a broker explains that the owner will not allow alterations to a property to accommodate a disabled person, such as installing a ramp, lowering kitchen counters, and widening doorways, this could potentially violate the Fair Housing Act. The Fair Housing Act requires landlords to allow reasonable modifications to the living environment to accommodate a person's disability, so long as the tenant agrees to pay for the costs of the alterations and to restore the property at the end of the lease term if necessary. Therefore, the correct answer is Yes, it violates the law, assuming the housing is covered under this act and the request is reasonable.

However, this can be subject to state and local laws which might provide additional protections or stipulations. It's important to note that fair housing laws are designed to protect individuals from discrimination, and ensuring access for people with disabilities is a critical aspect of these protections. The broker and landlord should be aware of such laws and carefully adhere to them.