DEPARTMENT FOR WORK
AND PENSIONS News Release (Reference No: DRC-3) issued by The
Government News Network on 24 May 2007
prepared by the
DEPARTMENT FOR WORK AND PENSIONS Work Welfare and Equality Group
Landlords' responses to the Disability Discrimination Act
(DDA) A research report published today by the Department for Work
and Pensions explores landlords' awareness of and responses
to the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA), looking particularly
at issues relating to changes to policies and procedures and
adjustments. The research follows a report published in March
looking at 'Organisations' responses to the
DDA'(DWP report 410).
Key Findings
* There is a clear divide between the social landlords (local
authorities and housing associations) and the private-sector
landlords (letting agents and private landlords) in terms of
policy, experience, and practice.
* Local authorities and housing associations had a good awareness
of DDA legislation in general, although awareness of the duties
for landlords was lower. There was very low awareness amongst the
private-sector landlords of disability legislation, and little
awareness of the new DDA duties for landlords.
* Local authorities and housing associations were making a wide
range of adjustments and arrangements for disabled tenants which
often surpassed the requirements of the new DDA duties; these
included making physical adjustments to properties, adjusting
policies, practices and procedures, and providing auxiliary aids.
* Letting agents and private landlords had made some adjustments
to policies, practices and procedures on request. There were a
small number of examples where landlords, (or letting agents on
their behalf) had provided auxiliary aids, and there was generally
a willingness to make adjustments, within reason.
* All landlords agreed that the key benefit of making adjustments
was to enable their tenants to stay in their homes. Social
landlords viewed this as part of their target to serve the diverse
community. For private landlords the primary motivation was to
keep tenants, as it guaranteed a regular income from their rent.
* The DDA duties for landlords were felt to have little potential
impact on the social housing sector, although the DDA more
generally had brought about a considerable change in policy and
practice. Private landlords generally felt that the DDA duties
would rarely apply to them.
* Disabled tenants felt that the duties could assist them in the
future. They would require more information, advice and support
around the DDA duties in order to be able to use them effectively.
Notes for editors
1. The DDA duties on landlords which existed prior to December
2006 cover the following:
* Prospective tenants - it is unlawful for landlords to
discriminate against a disabled person in the terms with which
they offer to let the premises, by refusing to let the premises to
the disabled person, or in their treatment of the disabled person
in relation to any list of persons in need of premises.
* Current disabled tenants - it is unlawful for landlords to
discriminate in the way they permit the disabled person to make
use of any benefits or facilities, or by refusing to permit the
disabled person to make use of the facilities, or by evicting the
disabled person or subjecting the disabled person to any other detriment.
The new DDA duties for landlords came into force in December 2006:
* There is a requirement for landlords or managers of premises to
make adjustments to policies, practices and procedures, and to
provide auxiliary aids and services on request. Requests from
tenants need to be clear but need not be in writing, or refer to
the DDA.
* There is no DDA duty to make adjustments to physical features,
either to the let premises or to common parts of buildings.
2. The research was based on 45 in-depth interviews: five
interviews with landlords' stakeholder organisations, 25
interviews with landlords, and 15 interviews with disabled tenants
and was conducted by the Institute for Employment Studies.
3. The Prime Minister's Strategy Unit report,
'Improving the Life Chances of Disabled People',
published in January 2005, set out the Government's strategy
for disabled people. It included some 60 recommendations for
improving disabled people's lives, focusing on four key
themes: early years, the transition from childhood into adulthood,
employment and independent living. The Office for Disability
Issues (ODI) was launched in December 2005 to drive this strategy
forward and report publicly on the progress being made. The ODI
also provides leadership within Government on disability rights.
4. Research Report 429 - Landlords' responses to the
Disability Discrimination Act is published today in the DWP
Research Report Series. A summary and copy of the report are
available on the DWP website at http://www.dwp.gov.uk/asd/asd5.
Textphone: 020 7238 0788
Website: http://www.dwp.gov.uk