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Wheelchair Accessible Apartments in Boston

Looking for a wheelchair accessible apartment or condo in Boston? Boston City Properties has 1000's of ADA compliant listings in every neighborhood in the Boston area. Fill out the form above for today's list of properties that meet your criteria.

Information about ADA units:

Since the passage of the Fair Housing Amendments Act of 1988, all newly constructed multi-family dwellings must be accessible to those with disabilities. The reach of this act was extended in 1990 when the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was passed. The implementation of this legislation has vastly changed the outlook for people who need handicap accessible or wheelchair accessible residential options. Between these two acts, individuals with disabilities have can hope for and expect much more out of their housing, including in apartments and condominiums.

In the more than two decades since the introduction of these pieces of legislation, landlords and apartment managers have been working to make their buildings ADA compliant. Today, there are many housing options for Americans with disabilities in cities across the nation. Boston is no exception, and Boston City Properties has thousands of apartment listings available, many of which are ADA-compliant.

Requirements for Apartments After ADA Implementation

Once the Americans with Disabilities Act was approved and became law, it became imperative that all disabled people be able to live in and easily traverse their apartments and condos. Specifically, ADA compliance for apartment communities means that:

These requirements only apply to public residential communities; any that are considered private do not have to comply with ADA bylaws.

ADA Means Freedom of Movement

Within public apartment complexes, the housing acts specify that disabled residents and guests must be able to freely access common and public use areas. This means that each of these locations must have accessible doors or entrances and accessible routes to all areas. Accessible doors and entrances are defined as openings that will allow individuals who use wheelchairs, canes, walkers or crutches to maneuver freely and easily throughout the area. Locations involved in these stipulations include:

Under the ADA, all public residential housing, even if it was built after 1990, must attempt to become accessible for those with disabilities. For older buildings, this includes removing architectural barriers when it is easily completed and at reasonable expense.

One of the most important areas for ADA-compliant apartments is the kitchen. Handicap-accessible kitchens must allow space for wheelchairs to turn and maneuver around the counters and appliances. Residents and guests must have enough space to pull sideways next to the sink, stove and oven. The refrigerator must have enough space to open and close the door while a wheelchair is parked nearby. Finally, there must be at least 40 inches of space between all the walls and appliances, including in a U-shaped kitchen, to allow a person in a wheelchair to turn around.

The second most important area of handicap-accessible apartments is the bathroom. Grab bars must be installed near toilets and bathtubs or showers for easy access. This means that the walls must be reinforced to allow these bars to be safely hung. Bathrooms must have clear floor space to allow a wheelchair to maneuver around the door, toilet and sink easily.

Other Disabilities Covered Under ADA Guidelines

In addition to wheelchair accessibility, many other types of disabilities are covered under the ADA strictures. Besides requiring wheelchair accessibility, housing complexes must provide equal services to individuals who have hearing, vision and speech impairments. Under the strict guidelines of the Americans with Disabilities Act, no individual with a disability may be excluded, segregated or denied services because of the absence of those services.

This means that public residential accommodations must provide auxiliary aids and services where necessary. These can include, but are not limited to:

Even with these accommodating services in mind, public residences do not have to provide such items if it would result in undue burden to the facility.

Although it may sound like the rules for ADA compliance are long and difficult, newer public apartment complexes and condos are already following these rules, and many older buildings are now working to be handicap accessible. Boston City Properties has a long list of these ADA-compliant residential options ready for anyone searching for his or her next living arrangement.

Fill in the information above to view up-to-the-minute availability, including photos, floorplans, virtual tour, and more!

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