Start With Clarity
The single biggest thing you can do to find the right apartment is ask for what you need in specific, measurable terms.
State your need clearly. Use specific terms.
Say: "I need 18 inches on either side of the toilet," not "I need a big bathroom."
Don't be shy when describing why you need a certain feature. Knowing why helps the other person know if the apartment actually fits. Try to differentiate between "musts" and "would-be-nice" features.
Finding Accessible Housing
Where to look, who to talk to, and what's already required by law.
Be realistic
Few homes are perfect immediately. Make sure the expensive modifications are there — ramping, hallway width, bathroom size — but recognize that doors can be widened and light switches adapted cheaply. Under the Fair Housing Act, the landlord must allow you to make your own reasonable adaptations.
Check local agencies
Landlords often call local housing agencies, rehab commissions, and independent living centers in search of tenants. Check display ads for the universal wheelchair symbol — it means accessible units are available in that building. Look in disability-related publications too.
Enlist professional help
Call the office managers of several real estate agencies and ask for an agent with experience in wheelchair accessible housing. Speak to several, then commit to working with just one — so there's an incentive for that agent to find you a home.
Look at new construction
Most rental housing that recently went into service must have some units built to accessible or adaptable standards. New buildings often have the easiest baseline.
Know Your Rights
The Fair Housing Act gives disabled renters specific protections. Many landlords don't know the details — and that's an opportunity, not a fight.
If you encounter discrimination
Inform the landlord of your rights in a helpful way — don't be adversarial unless you have to. The rights and needs of disabled people are still new to some landlords. Many don't know that a companion or guide dog isn't considered a pet, or that you're entitled to make reasonable changes to make your apartment more livable. If you don't tell them, they may never know.
When You're Looking at a Place
The practical checks that separate a good apartment from one you'll have to leave in six months.
Need a lift?
In a high-rise, look for more than one elevator so you don't get stranded if one breaks down. And ask: in an emergency, is there an alternate accessible exit?
Plan for every season
When you're looking at a home in summer, consider the accessibility when there's ice and snow on the ground. A perfectly accessible entrance in July can be impassable in January.
How's the neighborhood?
Check out curb-cuts and access to stores and public transit in the area. The unit itself is only half the equation — the surrounding blocks have to work too.
Be kind to your landlord
Though it's the law, it's nice to give credit to a good, accessible landlord. If other accessible units are vacant, let people know. If accessible homes were always rented, more would be built.
Choose carefully
Unless you're in a bind, take your time and find a home that's right for you. Don't let initial discouragement trap you in a place you'll be leaving soon. If you're happy with the home, consider a long-term lease.
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