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Practice Of Real Estate DisclosuresFair_housingMEDIUM

A California tenant with a physical disability requests that the landlord install a ramp at the building entrance. Under California fair housing law, what is the landlord's obligation regarding this request?

Correct Answer

B) The landlord must permit the reasonable modification and, because the ramp affects a common area, California law may require the landlord to bear the cost if it does not impose an undue burden

Installing a ramp is a 'reasonable modification' under the FHA (42 U.S.C. §3604(f)(3)(A)) and California FEHA (Gov. Code §12927(c)) — a physical change to the premises, distinct from a 'reasonable accommodation,' which involves a change in rules or policies. Under federal law, tenants typically bear the cost of modifications, including in common areas. However, California FEHA and the Unruh Civil Rights Act impose broader obligations on landlords, and California courts and the Department of Fair Employment and Housing have recognized that landlords may be required to fund common-area modifications where the cost does not constitute an undue financial burden. The landlord cannot categorically refuse a reasonable modification request.

Answer Options
A
The landlord may deny the request because physical alterations to the building are solely the tenant's responsibility under both federal and state law
B
The landlord must permit the reasonable modification and, because the ramp affects a common area, California law may require the landlord to bear the cost if it does not impose an undue burden
C
The landlord must approve the modification only if the tenant agrees to restore the entrance to its original condition upon vacating
D
The landlord may deny the request if the building was constructed before current accessibility standards were adopted

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Related Topics & Key Terms

Key Terms:

fair_housingdisabilityreasonable_accommodationrampGov_Code_12927

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