My tenant has a wheel chair due to needing oxygen sometimes. it weighs 400 lbs and he cant get it up the 4 steps inside the apartment. He wants to install a ramp down the driveway. I made it clear it can't block the front walkway, his door is on the side. He said he needs a letter for his insurance saying its ok. I agreed with restrictions but said I wanted to see what they want to put in. He could use a blanket letter later on to say I gave him permission to do whatever for a ramp. He claims ADA requires a very long ramp. This is a two family built in 1910, where I am living upstairs. I don't believe the ADA applies to residential or older homes. The entrance serves only his apartment on the first floor. The rise is about 36 inches. An overly long ramp will interfere with other walkways. Does anyone know about this subject. Tenants insurance would pay for anything. I would have preferred a lift installed, but I guess he is pushing for a ramp cause it is cheaper.

With a 36" rise you will need 36" for the ramp plus a 5' x 5' level spot at the top & bottom for a landing. Since the ramp is going to be more than 30' long you would also need at least 1 intermediate flat landing. It seems to me as though a lift might be a much better option.

Once he gets to the door how feasible is it to enter in a wheelchair? Also how easy can he get around with a wheelchair once inside?

Make sure that if you decide to allow this that it's built by someone who is licensed & insured. You also want to make sure that when they no longer live there or need it that they are responsible for removing the ramp & restoring your property to like it was before the ramp.

I have heard their are agencies that will also help provide these type of ramps, or help advise on construction, or on options. In my city, I would contact an agency called Independence First.

John,

This is a common LL situation and should be covered in a proper lease. What does your lease say?

Some basics:

-you must allow REASONABLE accommodations

-you can require a drawing for your approval

-you can require additional deposit to cover the removal of the ramp someday

-you can require a licensed, bonded contractor

-you can require it be built to code

-you can require it not be attached permanently to the building

-Steve MA was right but had a typo. The slope must be no less than 1 foot long for every 1 inch in height. 36" high = 36' long minimum.

-there are tons of agencies who will build this for a res with legit needs. As a former Scoutmaster there are ALWAYS boys looking for Eagle Scout projects like this.

Brad & Busy,

Although I agree that there are organizations and even church groups that will do this, I am thinking that they are usually volunteers and usually kids and have no experience and are not licensed and insured. In this situation I think it should be done by licensed and insured professionals in the field because of liability reasons.

Building a 36' code compliant ramp so as not to block walkway will involve a few landings and switchbacks. Also, it will be a challenge to keep grass trimmed around it.

I am both a landlord and involved with Disability community as my daughter is disabled and has a service dog and wheelchair. This falls under Federal Fair Housing Act - Disability section, and NY may even have additional requirements.

www.hud.gov/program_offices/fair_housing_equal_opp/disability_main

It would be my preference to have a lift instead of the ramp which will take up too much space, block other walkways. Tenant seems to keep pushing for a ramp under the assumption it is cheaper. If it is $8000 I doubt it would be less expensive than a lift.

It would be my preference to have a lift instead of the ramp which will take up too much space, block other walkways. Tenant seems to keep pushing for a ramp under the assumption it is cheaper. If it is $8000 I doubt it would be less expensive than a lift.