Disability Discrimination Act 2005 – Implications For Leased Premises

The Disability Discrimination Act 2005 ("the Act") is of interest to landlords and managers of leased property as the Act makes it unlawful to discriminate against disabled persons in relation to the management of premises. The Act received Royal Assent on 7 April 2005 and amends the Disability Discrimination Act 1995. It will come into force in stages but the most significant changes came into effect on 4 December 2005.

The Act expands on the provisions which have already been put in place under the 1995 Act in respect of letting property.

Under the Act the definition of disability is widened to include people who suffer from HIV, multiple sclerosis and cancer. The Act applies to a "Relevant Disabled Person" who is a person to whom property is let or the occupier of let premises.