Disability Ramp Question

[Paul Kubin]

Hi, all - 

I have a good tenant who has had some medical issues and called me asking if she and her husband could install a handrail to get up/down the 3 stairs in front of the house.  She is 50's, and "learning to walk again" after some major disability a year or two ago.  

I told her, "Sure, in fact, I'll pay for that - I'd hate to see you fall and get hurt."  I had my handyman go out and he said that they have created a makeshift ramp going up the steps and it is too steep and unsafe (I never approved it).  He estimates  $800 to build one that is safe and to code.  

They're good tenants, but I don't want to pay for that, particularly if she's getting better, not worse.  I thought about telling them I would contribute some money - say, $300 toward construction of a proper ramp and handrail, but I can't pay for a handrail for an unsafe ramp or it seems to me that I risk liability of something happens.  Does this seem like a reasonable solution?    Other ideas?

[Tony Savage]

Hey Paul,

Tell your tenants that they need to remove the unsafe ramp A.S.A.P! Once the ramp is removed you will contribute to the cost for your handyman to build a safe ramp.  Give them 300 to 400 bucks to go towards the cost of the new ramp and the handrail. Regardless, that unsafe ramp needs to be removed immediately!