Sorry for the second post so quickly. The answers so far seem to me to suggest that a none disabled tenant is not allowed to have a disabled friend visit, without them making adjustments! My thoughts are that the tenant and the friend could mount a defence under the equalities act. A more reasonable and goodwill gesture would be for the landlord to provide a moveable ramp. I am sure that the cost would not be huge and would buy the landlord significant goodwill and will say to the tenant and friend and their other family and friends 'what a brilliant landlord

Terence R Duerden MRICS
________________________________________
From: Accessibuilt list [[log in to unmask]] on behalf of Ian Waterman [[log in to unmask]]
Sent: 08 November 2011 12:08
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Visitor issue

Hi Robert,

This is a difficult one, and with no simple answer.....
Doubtless the arguments will ping pong around for some time.....

I like your initial statement ‘facing a small issue’.....
Let us hope it stays that way.....

I agree your duty is to the tenant.....
And, on behalf of your authority to undertake what is reasonable.....

Your resolution seems a reasonable one.....

So let us hope common sense will prevail.....

Let us know how it progresses

Regards


From: Accessibuilt list [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Bracewell, Robert
Sent: 08 November 2011 11:18
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Visitor issue

Good morning all, I hope Monday hasn't been too bad for you so far?

We are facing a small issue here regarding a visitor who has complained to Counsellors and MP about being unable to visit her friend who lives on the ground floor in a block of Council Flats; she uses a wheelchair and is demanding access to her friend's house. The design of the flats isn't perfect, built in the mid-60's they have a level entrance leading to the ground floor flats; unfortunately the corridor leading to the stairway is narrow and each flat has a small step and the bottom stair is higher than these steps. This has precluded any major works in levelling the whole floor as it would leave a dangerous part of a riser as the bottom step.

My view on the matter is that as a landlord our duties are to the tenant, to alter the whole floor and staircase would be unreasonable as the stair is a structural element of the block, so we're sorry, but the tenant would have to provide a small removable ramp (the tenant isn't a wheelchair user) to allow their friend access - just as in a private home of the period.

Thoughts?

Rob

___________________________________________
Rob Bracewell BA (Hons) - Access Officer
Planning & Housing Policy Team, Regeneration & Policy Service
Lancaster City Council, PO Box 4, Town Hall
Dalton Square, Lancaster LA1 1QR
Tel. 01524 582372 Mobile: 07792439623
Fax 01524 582322
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Run by SURFACE for more information on research, consultancy and the distance taught MSc. in Accessibility and Inclusive Design programme visit:
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