Handicap and Special Needs

 J. Ellis can help you find a special needs apartment home that will meet almost any situation. We have all the information on accessible apartment homes as well as those communities that cater exclusively to seniors.

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When Seeking a Handicap, Accessible Apartment Home, Follow these Guidelines:

State your need clearly!

Use Specific Terms.

Say: "I need 18 inches on either side of the toilet," not "I need a big bathroom."

Don't be shy when describing why you need a certain feature. Knowing why helps the other person know if the apartment fits. Try to differentiate between "musts" and "would-be-nice" features.

Be realistic - Few apartment homes are perfect immediately.

Make sure the expensive modifications are there - ramping, hallway size, bathroom size - but recognize that doors can be widened and light switches adapted cheaply. Under the new Fair Housing Law the apartment owner or management company must allow you to make your own reasonable adaptations.

Enlist professional help! Check with our J. Ellis locator professionals first!

We no the location of most accessible apartments…and in price ranges that meet most every budget. Housing agencies, rehab commissions and independent living centers often call us about availability. Our agents have experience with wheelchair accessible and other special needs housing. There is an incentive for that locator professional to find you a home.

Know Your Rights

If you encounter discrimination, inform the manager or leasing professional of your rights in a helpful way - don't be adversarial unless necessary. The rights and needs of disabled people are new to some. Some apartment professionals don't know a companion or guide dog isn't considered a pet, or that you're entitled to make reasonable changes to make your apartment more livable. If you don't tell them, they may never know.

New Construction = More accessibility (usually)

Most rental housing that was recently built has some units built to accessible or adaptable standards.

Need a Lift?

If you live in a high-rise building, it's good to have more than one elevator so that you don't get stranded if one breaks. In case of emergency - Is there an alternate accessible exit?

Change of season - When looking at a home in summer, consider the accessibility when there is ice and snow on the ground.

How's the neighborhood? - Check out curb-cuts and access to stores and transit in the area.

Be kind to your apartment manager and office team - Though it's the law, it's nice to receive a few strokes for being a good, accessible “landlord”. If there are other vacant accessible units, let people know. If accessible homes were always rented, more would be built.

Choose carefully! - Unless you're in a bind, take your time and find a home that's right for you.

Don't let initial discouragement trap you in a home that will send you looking again soon. If you're happy with the home, consider a long-term lease.