Whats New In Landlord/Tenant Law?
There are several new developments that should be considered if you own income property: • Invisible Disabilities – Tenants with “invisible disabilities” such as mental illness, mental retardation, brain injury, multiple chemical sensitivity and neurological disorders are protected by the Fair Housing Act and the Federal Rehabilitation Act of 1973. These laws require that landlords “reasonably accommodate” the tenants’ disability. Courts have held that mentally disabled tenants cannot be evicted for threatening others. They must be given a chance to control their behavior with medication. A condominium association was forced to stop using pesticides and to pay a $40,000.00 settlement because the owner had multiple chemical sensitivities. Tenants have been allowed to keep pets in violation of no pet provisions if the pet is needed for therapeutic reasons. Tenants cannot be denied an apartment on the basis that they are unable to live independently.
