The Disability Discrimination (Providers of Services) (Adjustment of Premises) Regulations 2001

Statutory Instrument 2001 No. 3253

The Disability Discrimination (Providers of Services) (Adjustment of Premises) Regulations 2001

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STATUTORY INSTRUMENTS

2001 No. 3253
DISABLED PERSONS
The Disability Discrimination (Providers of Services) (Adjustment of Premises) Regulations 2001

	Made	26th September 2001
	Laid before Parliament	2nd October 2001
	Coming into force	1st October 2004

The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, in exercise of the powers conferred on him by sections 21(5)(a) and (b), 27(3) and 67(3) of, and paragraph 8(a) and (b) and paragraph 9 of Schedule 4 to, the Disability Discrimination Act 1995[1], and of all other powers enabling him in that behalf, hereby makes the following Regulations: -

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)

(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)

    (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 -

(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)

(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 -

(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 -

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.".

Signed by the authority of the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions.

Maria Eagle
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State Department for Work and Pensions

26th September 2001

SCHEDULE(regulation 3(4))

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 -

Buildings in England and Wales

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

(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 -

(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 -

(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.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

These Regulations are made under Part III of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 and apply to service providers and landlords of premises occupied by service providers.

Regulation 3 prescribes particular circumstances in which it is reasonable or not reasonable for a service provider to have to take steps under section 21 of the Act in relation to alterations to his premises. One prescribed circumstance is where under the terms of a binding obligation the service provider is required to obtain the consent of another person to the alteration. In such circumstances it is reasonable for him to have to request the consent and it is not reasonable for him to have to make the alteration before the consent is obtained. Another circumstance is where, in the circumstances set out in the Schedule, a physical feature provided to assist people to have access to a building or to use the facilities provided in the building satisfies the relevant design standards defined in the Schedule. In such a case it is not reasonable for the service provider to have to remove or alter the feature.

Regulation 4 defines the meaning of "sub-lease" and "sub-tenancy" for the purposes of section 27 of the Act.

Regulations 5 to 7 set out the circumstances for the purposes of section 27 of, and Part II of Schedule 4 to the Act, where a lessor will be taken to have withheld his consent or to have reasonably or unreasonably withheld his consent to an application to make an alteration to premises made by or on behalf of the service provider.

Regulation 8 sets out the conditions for the purposes of section 27 of, and Part II of Schedule 4 to, the Act, that it is reasonable for a lessor to attach to a grant of consent to an alteration of premises.

Regulation 9 modifies certain provisions of section 27 of, and Schedule 4 to, the Act that apply to a landlord who is the service provider's immediate landlord so that they apply to a landlord who is a service provider's superior landlord.

The Schedule explains the meaning of "relevant design standard" for the purpose of Regulation 3 and sets out the circumstances in which a feature is to be regarded as satisfying that standard.

The Schedule refers to "Approved Document M". Copies of Approved Document M (ISBN 0 11 753469 2) are available from The Stationery Office Limited (Mail, telephone and fax orders only) PO Box 29, Norwich NR3 1GN (phone orders 0845 7 023474, fax orders 0870 600 5533, Email book.orders@theso.co.uk, Internet http://www.clicktso.com) and from Stationery Office Bookshops.

Notes:

[1] 1995 c. 50. For the meaning of "prescribed" and of "regulations" see section 68.back

[2] Effect is given to the Technical Standards by S.I. 1994/1266, S.I. 1996/2251, S.I. 1997/2157, S.S.I. 1999/173, S.S.I. 2001/320.back

[3] S.I. 1991/2768. Part M was originally introduced by the Building (Disabled People) Regulations 1987 (S.I. 1987/1445) which was amended by the Building Regulations (Amendment) Regulations 1998 (S.I. 1998/2561). S.I. 1991/2768 and S.I. 1998/2561 have been revoked by S.I. 2000/2531.back

[4] S.I. 2000/2531.back

[5] S.I. 1990/2179 as amended by S.I. 1993/1457 and the statutory instruments cited in footnote (a) on page 5.back

ISBN 0 11 029963 9

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Prepared 2 October 2001