The Fair Housing Act Guidelines have seven requirements for the covered residential dwelling units. Here is the definitions. This newsletter will just give an overview and will not describe all the details for each requirement. We will plan to explain in more detail in future newsletters:
REQUIREMENT 1
Accessible Building Entrance on an Accessible Route:
Covered multifamily dwellings must have at least one building entrance on an accessible route, unless it is impractical to do so because of terrain or unusual characteristics of the site. For all such dwellings with a building entrance on an accessible route the following six requirements apply.
REQUIREMENT 2
Accessible and Usable Public and Common Use Areas:
Public and common use areas must be readily accessible to and usable by people with
disabilities.
REQUIREMENT 3
Usable Doors:
All doors designed to allow passage into and within all premises must be sufficiently
wide to allow passage by persons in wheelchairs.
REQUIREMENT 4
Accessible Route Into and Through the Covered Dwelling Unit:
There must be an accessible route into and through the dwelling units, providing access for people with disabilities throughout the unit.
REQUIREMENT 5
Light Switches, Electrical Outlets, Thermostats and Other Environmental
Controls in Accessible Locations:
All premises within the dwelling units must contain light switches, electrical outlets, thermostats and other environmental controls in accessible locations.
REQUIREMENT 6
Reinforced Walls for Grab Bars:
All premises within dwelling units must contain reinforcements in bathroom walls to allow later installation of grab bars around toilet, tub, shower stall and shower seat, where such facilities are provided.
REQUIREMENT 7
Usable Kitchens and Bathrooms:
Dwelling units must contain usable kitchens and bathrooms such that an individual who uses a wheelchair can maneuver about the space.
