Are there any special protections for tenants with disabilities under Fair Housing Law?
Yes, there are special protections for tenants with disabilities under Pennsylvania’s Fair Housing Law. At a basic level, the law prohibits landlords and other housing providers from discriminating against anyone on the basis of a disability. This means that housing providers have an obligation to make reasonable accommodations and modifications in order to ensure that disabled tenants have the same access to housing as people without disabilities. Furthermore, Pennsylvanian landlords are not allowed to impose special terms or conditions on individuals with disabilities, such as charging additional fees or requiring a higher security deposit. Additionally, housing providers must make sure that their units have the basic architectural features that are necessary to make them accessible to people with disabilities, like wide doorways, accessible bathrooms, and ramps. Pennsylvanian landlords must also comply with reasonable requests for assistance animals, even if there is a ‘no pets’ policy in place. This means that landlords must allow tenants with disabilities to keep service or emotional support animals in their units, even if pets are not typically allowed. Finally, housing providers are prohibited from inquiring about the nature of an applicant’s disability or asking about medical records. They are also not allowed to take any retaliatory action against a tenant with a disability who has requested a reasonable accommodation or modification.
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