Can you say ""not suitable for wheelchairs" / "able-bodied"" in a real estate listing?
High risk. Language that excludes people with disabilities is prohibited.
Why it gets flagged
Disability is a protected class. Ads that say a home is "not suitable for" people with disabilities, or that refer to "able-bodied" residents, state a limitation or preference that the Fair Housing Act prohibits.
It is fine, and useful, to describe the physical features truthfully: "three steps to the front door", "second-floor bedrooms only". Describe the home, not who can live in it.
Instead of
Second-floor walk-up, not suitable for wheelchairs.
Try wording like
Second-floor unit reached by an interior staircase.
Flag-only: describe the physical features and leave out any statement about who can live there.
What to say instead
- Second-floor unit reached by an interior staircase.
- Three steps to the front entry; bedrooms are on the second floor.
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Open the Fair Housing checkerRelated phrases
7 phrases to stop using in listings
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General information, not legal advice. Fair Housing rules, MLS rules and local law vary; your broker and an attorney are the authorities. The phrase check is rule-based and cannot catch everything.