You have the right to ask for structural or physical changes to a place you rent if you need them because of your disabilities. These are called “reasonable modifications.” These changes can be in your unit or in common areas. You have the right to equal use of all the common areas – including the main entrance and the residential elevator.
For example, you may ask for structural changes like:
- bathroom grab bars
- adjusted door knobs
- a ramped entry
- a wider door to allow wheelchair passage
You may be asked to pay for some of these changes unless the housing provider gets government funding or the home was built after 1991, when the changes should have happened by law.
In most newer, multi-unit buildings – occupied after March 1991 – higher levels of accessibility are required by law. This includes accessibility for the elevator, public/common areas, doors, bathrooms, and kitchens.