Citation and commencement

1. These Regulations may be cited as the Disability Discrimination (Providers of Services) (Adjustment of Premises) Regulations 2001 and shall come into force on 1st October 2004.

Interpretation

2. In these Regulations—

“the Act” means the Disability Discrimination Act 1995;

“binding obligation” means a legally binding obligation (not contained in a lease) in relation to premises whether arising from an agreement or otherwise;

“building” means an erection or structure of any kind;

“relevant lessor” means a lessor who has received a written application by or on behalf of the occupier for consent to make an alteration to premises for the purposes of section 27 of, and Part II of Schedule 4 to, the Act.

Duty of providers of services to make adjustments: reasonable steps

3. —(1) This regulation prescribes particular circumstances, for the purposes of section 21 of the Act, in which it is reasonable, and in which it is not reasonable, for a provider of services to have to take the steps specified in this regulation.

(2) Where—

(a) under any binding obligation a provider of services is required to obtain the consent of any person to an alteration to premises which he occupies, and

(b) that alteration is one which, but for that requirement, it would be reasonable for the provider of services to have to make in order to comply with a duty under section 21 of the Act,

it is reasonable for the provider of services to have to request that consent; but it is not reasonable for him to have to make that alteration before that consent is obtained.

(3) It is not reasonable for a provider of services to have to remove or alter a physical feature where the feature concerned—

(a) was provided in or in connection with a building for the purpose of assisting people to have access to the building or to use facilities provided in the building; and

(b) satisfies the relevant design standard.

(4) The Schedule explains—

(a) the meaning of “relevant design standard” for the purpose of paragraph (3)(b); and

(b) the circumstances in which a physical feature is to be regarded as satisfying that standard.

Definition of sub-lease and sub-tenancy

4. For the purposes of section 27 of the Act—

“sub-lease” means any sub-term created out of, or deriving from, a superior leasehold interest; and

“sub-tenancy” means any tenancy created out of, or deriving from, a superior tenancy.

Lessor withholding consent

5. —(1) This regulation prescribes particular circumstances in which a relevant lessor is to be taken, for the purposes of section 27 of, and Part II of Schedule 4 to, the Act to have withheld his consent for alterations to premises.

(2) Subject to paragraph (3), a relevant lessor is to be taken to have withheld such consent where, within the period of 42 days beginning with the date on which he receives the application for consent, he—

(a) fails to reply consenting to or refusing the alteration; or

(b) (i) replies consenting to the alteration subject to obtaining the consent of another person required under a superior lease or pursuant to a binding obligation, but

(ii) fails to seek that consent.

(3) A relevant lessor is not to be taken to have withheld his consent for the purposes of paragraph (2) where—

(a) the applicant fails to submit with the application such plans and specifications as it is reasonable for him to require before consenting to the alteration, and

(b) within the period of 21 days beginning with the date on which he receives the application, he replies requesting the applicant to submit such plans and specifications.

(4) However, where such plans and specifications are submitted to a relevant lessor in response to a request made in accordance with paragraph (3)(b), he shall be taken to have withheld his consent to the alteration where, within the period of 42 days beginning with the date on which he receives those plans and specifications, he—

(a) fails to reply consenting to or refusing the alteration; or

(b) (i) replies consenting to the alteration subject to obtaining the consent of another person required under a superior lease or pursuant to a binding obligation, but

(ii) fails to seek that consent.

(5) A relevant lessor, who having sought the consent of the other person referred to in paragraphs (2)(b) or (4)(b), receives that consent, shall be taken to have withheld his consent to the alteration where, within the period of 14 days beginning with the day on which he receives the consent, he fails to inform the applicant in writing that he has received it.

(6) A relevant lessor who, but for the requirements as to time, complies with the requirements of paragraphs (2), (4) or (5) shall be taken to have withheld his consent until such time as he so complies.

(7) For the purposes of this regulation—

(a) a relevant lessor is to be treated as not having sought another person’s consent unless—

(i) he has applied in writing to that person indicating that—

(aa) the occupier has applied for consent to the alteration of the premises in order to comply with a section 21 duty; and

(bb) the relevant lessor has given his consent conditionally upon obtaining the other person’s consent; and

(ii) he submits to that other person any plans and specifications which have been submitted to him;

(b) “to reply” means to reply in writing.

Lessor withholding consent unreasonably

6. —(1) This regulation prescribes particular circumstances in which a relevant lessor is to be taken, for the purposes of section 27 of, and Part II of Schedule 4 to, the Act to have acted unreasonably in withholding his consent for alterations to premises.

(2) The circumstances so prescribed are that the lease provides that he shall give his consent to an alteration of the kind in question and he has withheld his consent to that alteration.

Lessor withholding consent reasonably

7. —(1) This regulation prescribes particular circumstances in which a relevant lessor is to be taken, for the purposes of section 27 of, and Part II of Schedule 4 to, the Act to have acted reasonably in withholding his consent for alterations to premises.

(2) The circumstances so prescribed are where—

(a) (i) there is a binding obligation requiring the consent of any person to the alteration;

(ii) the relevant lessor has taken steps to seek that consent; and

(iii) that consent has not been given, or has been given subject to a condition making it reasonable for him to withhold his consent; or

(b) the relevant lessor does not know, and could not reasonably be expected to know, that the alteration is one which the occupier proposes to make in order to comply with a section 21 duty.

Lessor’s consent subject to conditions

8. —(1) This regulation prescribes particular circumstances in which a condition, subject to which a relevant lessor has given his consent to alterations to premises, is to be taken, for the purposes of section 27 of, and Part II of Schedule 4 to, the Act to be reasonable.

(2) The circumstances so prescribed are where the condition is to the effect that—

(a) the occupier must obtain any necessary planning permission and any other consent or permission required by or under any enactment;

(b) the work must be carried out in accordance with any plans or specifications approved by the lessor;

(c) the lessor must be permitted a reasonable opportunity to inspect the work (whether before or after it is completed);

(d) the consent of another person required under a superior lease or a binding agreement must be obtained;

(e) the occupier must repay to the lessor the costs reasonably incurred in connection with the giving of his consent.

Modification of section 27 and paragraphs 5 to 7 of Schedule 4

9. —(1) In relation to any case where the occupier occupies premises under a sub-lease or sub-tenancy, the provisions of section 27 of, and Part II of Schedule 4 to, the Act shall have effect as if they contained the following modifications.

(2) In section 27(2), for “the lessor” substitute “his immediate landlord” where it occurs in sub-paragraphs (a) and (b) and “the immediate landlord” where it occurs in sub-paragraphs (c) and (d).

(3) After section 27(2), insert the following subsection—

“ (2A) Except to the extent to which it expressly so provides, any superior lease in respect of the premises shall have effect in relation to the lessor and lessee who are parties to that superior lease as if it provided—

(a) for the lessee to be entitled to give his consent to the alteration with the written consent of the lessor;

(b) for the lessee to have to make a written application to the lessor for consent if he wishes to give his consent to the alteration;

(c) if such an application is made, for the lessor not to withhold his consent unreasonably; and

(d) for the lessor to be entitled to make his consent subject to reasonable conditions. ” .

(4) In paragraphs 5 and 6(1) of Schedule 4, for “the lessor” substitute “his immediate landlord”.

(5) After paragraph 6(1) of Schedule 4, insert the following paragraph—

“ (1A) Where the lessee of any superior lease in relation to the premises has applied in writing to his lessor for consent to the alteration and—

(a) that consent has been refused, or

(b) the lessor has made his consent subject to one or more conditions,

the occupier, lessee or a disabled person who has an interest in the proposed alteration to the premises being made, may refer the matter to a county court or, in Scotland, to the sheriff. ” .

(6) In paragraphs 6(3) and 6(4) of Schedule 4, for “lessor's” substitute “immediate landlord's”.

(7) In paragraph 7 of Schedule 4—

(a) in sub-paragraph (1), for “the lessor”, substitute “any lessor (including any superior landlord)”;

(b) for sub-paragraph (2), substitute—

“ (2) Unless it appears to the court that another lessor should be joined or sisted as a party to the proceedings, the request shall be granted if it is made before the hearing of the claim begins. ” .

(regulation 3(4))

SCHEDULE REMOVAL OR ALTERATION OF PHYSICAL FEATURES: DESIGN STANDARDS

Definition of “relevant design standard”

1. —(1) Subject to sub-paragraph (3), a physical feature, in relation to a building situated in England or Wales, satisfies the relevant design standard for the purposes of regulation 3(3) where it accords with the relevant objectives, design considerations and provisions in Approved Document M.

(2) Subject to sub-paragraph (3), a physical feature, in relation to a building situated in Scotland, satisfies the relevant design standard for the purposes of regulation 3(3) where the feature accords with the Technical Standards relevant in relation to that feature; but the feature does not satisfy the relevant design standard where the relevant Technical Standards are those which were in effect before 30th June 1994 or those which are brought into effect after 31st March 2002( 2 ).

(3) However a physical feature does not satisfy the relevant design standard where more than 10 years have elapsed since—

(a) the day on which the construction or installation of the feature was completed; or

(b) in the case of a physical feature provided as part of a larger building project, the day on which the works in relation to that project were completed.

Buildings in England and Wales

2. —(1) For the purposes of this paragraph—

(a) “Approved Document M” means—

(i) the 1992 edition of the document of that title approved by the Secretary of State as practical guidance on meeting the requirements of Part M of Schedule 1 to the Building Regulations 1991( 3 ), first published for the Department of the Environment by Her Majesty’s Stationery Office in 1991 (ISBN 011 752447 6); or

(ii) the 1999 edition of the document of that title approved by the Secretary of State as practical guidance on meeting the requirements of Part M of Schedule 1 to the Building Regulations 1991, first published for the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions by The Stationery Office under licence from the Comptroller of Her Majesty’s Stationery Office in 1998 (ISBN 011 753469 2);

(b) “the Building Regulations” means the Building Regulations 1991 or the Building Regulations 2000( 4 ).

(2) In the case of a physical feature provided as part of building works to which the Building Regulations applied, for the purposes of paragraph 1(1) Approved Document M is whichever edition is the practical guidance which was relevant in relation to meeting the requirements of the Building Regulations which applied to those building works.

(3) In any other case, for the purposes of paragraph 1(1) Approved Document M is whichever edition was the last edition published at the time when the physical feature was provided in or in connection with the building.

(4) For the purpose of sub-paragraph (3), a physical feature is deemed to be provided in or in connection with the building on—

(a) the day upon which the works to install or construct the feature were commenced; or

(b) in the case of a physical feature provided as a part of a larger building project, the day upon which the works in relation to that project were commenced.

(5) Where in relation to the physical feature in question any provision of Approved Document M refers to a standard or specification (in whole or in part), that standard or specification shall be construed as referring to any equivalent standard or specification recognised for use in any member state of the European Community or European Economic Area.

Buildings in Scotland

3. —(1) For the purposes of paragraph 1(2), “Technical Standards” means the Technical Standards as defined by regulation 2(1) of the Building Standards (Scotland) Regulations 1990( 5 ) in effect at the time when the physical feature was provided in or in connection with the building.

(2) For the purpose of sub-paragraph (1), and subject to sub-paragraph (3), a physical feature is deemed to be provided in or in connection with the building on—

(a) the day upon which the works to install or construct the feature were commenced; or

(b) in the case of a physical feature provided as part of a larger building project, the day upon which the works in relation to that project were commenced.

(3) In a case where the physical feature is provided as part of building works in relation to which an application for a warrant for the construction or change of use of the building has been made and granted, the works are deemed to have commenced on the day upon which the application for the warrant was made.

(4) Where in relation to the physical feature in question any provision of the Technical Standards refers to a standard or specification (in whole or in part), that standard or specification shall be construed as referring to any equivalent standard or specification recognised for use in any member state of the European Community or European Economic Area.