P.M. from Oldham County, Kentucky writes:
Dear Mister Condo,
How can I get my condo Association to make my front entrance door ADA compliant? I am in a scooter and door is extremely heavy and difficult to enter. I have eight rods in my back and am fearful I will break a rod wrestling with the door. Thank you.
Mister Condo replies:
P.M., I am sorry that you are struggling with as basic a need as an entrance door. ADA compliance is something that all condo associations have to take seriously as not providing compliant common areas can lead to liability and lawsuits. If the entrance door you are speaking of is a common element owned by the association, simply submit your request in writing to the Board. If the door is specifically for your use, i.e. your personal door, you should also submit the request in writing to the Board but understand that the expense of changing your own personal door may be your own as opposed to the common entrance door, which is owned by the association. There are certain circumstances that would allow the Board to pass the cost of the common area door on to you as well but let’s wait and see how they respond to your request before we go down that path. As you know, I am not an attorney and offer no legal advice in this column. You might want to have a discussion with an attorney familiar with FHA and ADA rights for homeowners in condominiums just so you know what legal remedies are available to you should it come to that. My hope is that you alerting the Board that there is a problem is enough to have them respond and authorize the change to the door. All the best!