Installing Shower Grab Bars for Elderly Tenant

[Ted Klein]

After screening many tenants and narrowing it down to two quality candidates, I have accepted a holding fee equal to the security deposit for an elderly tenant for move in at the end of the month. They have pre-signed the lease and at move in will pay the 1st months rent and I will sign the lease to finalize it. I chose this candidate based upon potential long term tenancy.  A few days after the pre-signing of the lease, as a precaution, I asked if the tenant needed a grab bar for the shower stall, thinking I would install one for safety purposes and I asked for input on where to locate it. I just received a text this morning with a picture attached of their current shower and it shows 4 grab bars and a seat mounted to the back wall of the shower surround. This is obviously more than I was expecting. My current shower stall has one plastic bar on the far wall as shown in the second image.

Obviously these would require the walls to be reinforced with blocking between the studs to affix the bars which would require removal of the shower enclosure.

• My question, can I ask the tenant to pay for the grab bars and the professional installation?
• Do I really need to outfit my shower stall to the same level as shown in the image?
• Doesn't the tenant have to restore the property to the original move in condition when they move out?
• Is there another way to install the bars without removal of the enclosure?
• Would it be possible to ask the tenant to cancel the lease agreement, (I have not signed yet, only a holding fee has been paid) and then select the other candidate?

Tenants Current Shower My Shower Stall

[David Dachtera]

I understand where Thomas is coming from.

I would, however, recommend you consult your attorney regarding your responsibilities under the ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act), if any. Adding the bars and seat may or may not be considered a "reasonable accommodation". Ask legal counsel.