Buy To Let landlords are about to have to install facilities for the disabled

Many buy to let landlords are about to have to install facilities for the disabled in their properties under the new Single Equality Bill proposed by the Government. They would be required to alter communal areas of their property to enable them to be used by disabled tenants. The alterations would include providing ramps, handrails and installing lifts. Landlords would be unable to refuse to install any of these appliances.

The Bill did make it clear that landlords would not necessarily have to pay for the alterations. The Government have said that the Bill will help the 57,000 disabled people who have difficulties getting round the common areas of their accommodation.

Until recently buy to let landlords had a business free of statutes with a tax break of rental earning. The past few years have seen many big changes i.e. larger properties must be registered with local authorities at a cost of around £1400. Gas and electricity must be regularly checked and deposits must be held by a new agency. This month it was revealed that Revenue and Customs were about to clamp down on landlords they thought may not have paid the correct amount of tax.

The Bill will also stop discrimination in clubs which allow both men and women through their doors but do not let both use all the facilities all the time such as clubs that allow women use of facilities at certain times of the day or refuse them using certain rooms or bars.

They will not however be banning Working Mens Clubs or all male clubs.

The Single Equality Bill will also stop businesses refusing services to people of a certain age.

Lee Grandin, Managing Director of Landlord Mortgages, comments on the Government’s proposed Single Equality Bill:

"The news today that landlords could be obligated to build ramps and lifts for disabled tenants could actually serve to push landlords away from offering disabled accommodation. If you tighten the reins too far, landlords will simply close the door! As www.lettingagent.com has seen a reluctance by landlords to accept tenants in receipt of DSS payments, this new law will do nothing to change their minds.

“The Bill states that landlords would not necessarily be responsible for footing the bill for these changes. If they are not, who is? This needs to be made clear if landlords are to understand the implications of this bill. If the Government wants to find ways of accommodating disabled tenants, it should offer landlords incentives to include these extras, such as additional tax breaks or funding for the renovations they will need to make to their properties.

“We call for clarification on this issue in order to ensure that both landlords and disabled tenants get the best deal.”

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