Americans with Disabilities Act , (ADA) of 1990
What you don't know can hurt you
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The below topics are discussed in much more depth
on our members' ADA of 1990 page.
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Most professional property owners and managers should be familiar with the equal housing opportunities guaranteed to protected classes under the Fair Housing Act (FHA), which made discrimination in housing illegal. Most are probably not yet aware of the dangers they face from the many ambiguities contained in the Americans with Disabilities Act , ADA, of 1990.
Congress passed the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, and President George Bush signed the law into effect just prior to the 1992 election. Helping the handicapped has become so politically correct that every politician is in favor of anything that may help anyone, without apparent concern for the cost or consequences
Here are some alarming examples of the Act's effect:
A California woman wanted to keep a dog in her rental home, claiming it would help control her panic disorder. The building had a "no pets policy" and the landlord refused to make her an exception. She sued under ADA. Not only did she get the dog, she was awarded $100,000 in damages as well.
Another landlord was forced to accept late rent payments and postpone eviction proceedings against a tenant who was hospitalized for his mental illness and not paying rent.
The number of housing discrimination law suits brought against property owners and managers will continue to rise, until rental housing interests become politically active and demand "reason" in our housing laws and their interpretation. |