Disabled tenants
I am both a landlord and due to having had a stroke recently became a disabled tenant in a private flat that I can get around in a wheelchair. The disability was disclosed at the outset. I have nothing but issues with the flat that the landlord does not remedy.
I have been without a functioning hob for a month, the heating does not work, the door lock broke but has now been repaired. It is not my disability that has caused these issues.
What do your readers think of accepting disabled tenants and their responsibilities.
Thanks
Judy
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Member Since January 2011 - Comments: 12212 - Articles: 1408
12:34 PM, 16th March 2015, About 11 years ago
Hi Judy
Several of my tenants are disabled and elderly. I am regularly contacted by various help groups requesting my consent for the installation of grant funded hand rails, walk in showers etc. I always agree but on a case by case basis due to having to consider the commerciality of the proposition. For example, if a stair lift is installed I need to be certain that it will be removed at the end of the tenancy and that the property will be made good without the costs coming out of my pocket. So far we have always managed to find an amicable solution but if that wasn’t possible I would obviously have to refuse and insist upon my tenant finding more suitable accommodation.
The issues that you are having though are unaccepted, regardless of your difficulties. I don’t treat disabled tenants any differently that I do able bodied tenants. If heating isn’t working, a cooker knob if not functioning or a door lock is broken I get these fixed as a matter of priority. Wherever possible this is the same or the next working day – a month is just ridiculous!!!
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Member Since July 2013 - Comments: 561
10:20 AM, 17th March 2015, About 11 years ago
Talk to you local environmental health department, they should be able to send out a housing standards officer to do an inspection.
Member Since July 2014 - Comments: 104
5:29 PM, 17th March 2015, About 11 years ago
Hi Judy,
I am a landlord and disabled myself, though not a tenant. I have one large house divided into seven flats which I manage for the Family Trust which I set up some 10 years ago, and which is occupied by tenants of not less than 50 years of age. This was a policy decision made at the time, but now with most of the original tenants still in place,I propose installing a chair lift As far as I’m concerned a landlord who fails to respond in effecting relatively minor repairs does not warrant the benefit of having good tenants. Find somewhere else to rent with facilities suited to your disability. This may not be easy, but it is probably best to get shot of a bad landlord, as we would wish to be without bad tenants. If moving is not a viable proposition for you, take the advice from Mark and Ian.