Some people think that if you're apartment hunting and have a noticeable disability, such as a mobility impairment, the rules change. Many landlords and brokers -- even ones who mean well -- assume it's okay to make assumptions about what a prospect needs and only show certain available apartments to the person. For instance, a landlord or broker who notices that a prospect has difficulty walking may decide to tell the prospect only about ground-floor vacancies in a walk-up.
But such assumption-making on the part of a landlord, broker, or other real estate professional is illegal. Since the federal Fair Housing Act was amended in 1988 to include a ban on disability-based discrimination, people with disabilities across the United States have enjoyed the same right as other people to determine their own needs and make decisions accordingly when it comes to housing. A landlord who withholds telling you about an available apartment just because you have a disability is violating the law.
Just remember -- disability or no disability, you're the boss when it comes to finding the right apartment for you.
