Liability for having Renters Build Wheelchair Ramp?
We’re renting a house that has no wheelchair accessibility. Their last house they said didn’t have ramps either and that their son built them. My G/F and I, as landlords, are wondering the legality of allowing the family to build this ramp and how we can put it somewhere in the lease that avoids us from being liable 100%.
Rita, thanks. Most of my question was in regards to them building it themselves.
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By law, you must allow handicap modifications if you rent the property to someone in a wheelchair. As part of your lease, you should (for all renters) require renters insurance to cover their belongings together with any potential liability that may arise because of their tenancy. You should also require that the ramp be built to code (whatever the local laws require as far as handrails, etc.). In addition, you can require the ramp be removed upon termination of the lease.
You are going to want a lawyers advice for this- both to make sure it is indeed legal, and to make sure that there are no loopholes they can exploit and possibly even sue you over.