Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what plans she has to bring into force the parts of section 36 and Schedule 4 of the Equality Act 2010 that would enable residents to secure disability related alterations to the physical features of the common parts of let residential premises or premises owned on a commonhold basis; what discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government on that issue; and if she will make a statement.

The Government is currently reviewing Section 36 of the Equality Act with a view to assessing its implementation given its costs and regulatory impact.

Although requests for reasonable adjustments to common parts are in the first instance matters between disabled tenants and their landlords, these have implications for the provision and funding of care for disabled people, since funding to support such changes is a charge on the Department of Health-administered Better Care Fund which supports local authority health and social care services.

The review is therefore taking account of the impact on public and private landlords, any consequences for landlords’ willingness to let premises to disabled tenants, and the implications of additional calls on the Better Care Fund for the existing types of support which that Fund currently provides. My officials are working closely with those in both the Department for Communities and Local Government and the Department of Health on these issues.

The Government will announce the outcome of the review in due course.