Section 37: Adjustments to common parts in Scotland, Equality Act 2010

The Scottish Ministers may by regulations provide that a disabled person is entitled to make relevant adjustments to common parts in relation to premises in Scotland.

The reference in subsection (1) to a disabled person is a reference to a disabled person who—

is a tenant of the premises,

is an owner of the premises, or

is otherwise entitled to occupy the premises,

and uses or intends to use the premises as the person's only or main home.

Before making regulations under subsection (1), the Scottish Ministers must consult a Minister of the Crown.

Regulations under subsection (1) may, in particular—

prescribe things which are, or which are not, to be treated as relevant adjustments;

prescribe circumstances in which the consent of an owner of the common parts is required before a disabled person may make an adjustment;

provide that the consent to adjustments is not to be withheld unreasonably;

prescribe matters to be taken into account, or to be disregarded, in deciding whether it is reasonable to consent to adjustments;

prescribe circumstances in which consent to adjustments is to be taken to be withheld;

make provision about the imposition of conditions on consent to adjustments;

make provision as to circumstances in which the sheriff may make an order authorising a disabled person to carry out adjustments;

make provision about the responsibility for costs arising (directly or indirectly) from an adjustment;

make provision about the reinstatement of the common parts to the condition they were in before an adjustment was made;

make provision about the giving of notice to the owners of the common parts and other persons;

make provision about agreements between a disabled person and an owner of the common parts;

make provision about the registration of information in the Land Register of Scotland or the recording of documents in the Register of Sasines relating to an entitlement of a disabled person or an obligation on an owner of the common parts;

make provision about the effect of such registration or recording;

make provision about who is to be treated as being, or as not being, a person entitled to occupy premises otherwise than as tenant or owner.

In this section—

"common parts" means, in relation to premises, the structure and exterior of, and any common facilities within or used in connection with, the building or part of a building which includes the premises but only in so far as the structure, exterior and common facilities are not solely owned by the owner of the premises;
"relevant adjustments" means, in relation to a disabled person, alterations or additions which are likely to avoid a substantial disadvantage to which the disabled person is put in using the common parts in comparison with persons who are not disabled.

Section 37: Adjustments to common parts in Scotland

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