06. Discrimination when renting or buying a house or flat

It is unlawful for someone to discriminate against you because of a disability when they are selling or letting property. So a landlord cannot refuse to let a house to you just because you are disabled, without having a good reason. It is also unlawful for a landlord to discriminate in the way they treat tenants. The law applies to business premises, too.

For example, a landlord would be breaking the Disability Discrimination Act if they:

• tell a wheelchair user that a ground floor flat with no steps 'wouldn't be suitable' to rent, unless there was a good reason.
• charge you a higher deposit because the landlord thinks your child's disability will make him or her more likely to break things.

However, the Disability Discrimination Act does not mean that a landlord has to make changes to their property if someone with mobility problems wants to rent it. And the Act doesn't apply where the landlord (or a near relative) lives in the same building and shares some of the living accommodation (including a kitchen or bathroom, but not just a hallway or stairs) with the tenant.

There are a few cases where it may not be possible to treat a disabled person in exactly the same way as other people. This could be the case if, for example, you would not be able to understand the nature of a contract (for example, to buy or rent) because of your disability.