Member

The noble Baroness’s Amendment 86 would extend the rental discrimination measures to those who require home adaptations. Although we recognise the important issue she raises and believe that disabled people should absolutely not face discrimination when accessing the PRS, we still consider that the amendment is not the right way to meet its aim, although we understand the aim that she intends. Disabled people are already afforded full protections from discrimination by the Equality Act 2010, under which landlords are forbidden from discriminating against a person based on disability. Adding this cohort to our measures in the Bill would unnecessarily increase complexity and cause confusion, for little benefit, and would muddle the responsibilities of local authorities, which are responsible for enforcing the rental discrimination protections, and the courts, which have jurisdiction for Equality Act measures. For that reason, I kindly ask the noble Baroness not to press her amendments.