HAA Blog

Did you know that the Texas Property Code was changed in 2011 to require owners to provide a visual smoke alarm to residents with a hearing impairment disability, if they request one as a reasonable accommodation?

Here is what the law says in 92.254 (a-1) of the Texas Property Code in regards to an owner's duty to provide smoke alarms:

(a-1)  If requested by a tenant as an accommodation for a person with a hearing-impairment disability or as required by law as a reasonable accommodation for a person with a hearing-impairment disability, a smoke alarm must, in addition to complying with Subsection (a), be capable of alerting a hearing-impaired person in the bedrooms it serves.
 

This is different from most other reasonable accommodations for people with disabilities, as it requires the owner to pay for the smoke alarm.  These devices can be very pricey, but a new program from the City of Houston is helping to get these into your renters' hands, free of charge.

Through a grant from FEMA, the City of Houston will be able to provide more than 2,000 detectors to residents who need them.  The detectors will be available on a first come, first served basis and must be requested by the disabled individual.   

Please share these flyers with your residents who may be in need:  
 

Visual Smoke Alarm Flyer (English) 

Visual Smoke Alarm Flyer (Spanish) 

We are also providing an addendum that you can use, free of charge, to honor your compliance with the state law regarding reasonable accommodation for smoke alarms, if you participate in the giveaway program.  

For more information about HAA's Government Affairs activities, please contact govaffairs@haaonline.org.