The Disability Discrimination (Providers of Services) (Adjustment of Premises) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2003

Duty of providers of services to make adjustments: reasonable steps

3.—(1) This regulation prescribes particular circumstances, for the purposes of section 21 of the Act, in which it is reasonable, and in which it is not reasonable, for a provider of services to have to take the steps specified in this regulation.

(2) Where –

(a)under any binding obligation a provider of services is required to obtain the consent of any person to an alteration to premises which he occupies, and

(b)that alteration is one which, but for that requirement, it would be reasonable for the provider of services to have to make in order to comply with a duty under section 21 of the Act,

it is reasonable for the provider of services to have to request that consent; but it is not reasonable for him to have to make that alteration before that consent is obtained.

(3) It is not reasonable for a provider of services to have to remove or alter a physical feature where the feature concerned –

(a)was provided in or in connection with a building for the purpose of assisting people to have access to the building or to use facilities provided in the building; and

(b)satisfies the relevant design standard.

(4) The Schedule explains –

(a)the meaning of “relevant design standard” for the purpose of paragraph (3)(b); and

(b)the circumstances in which a physical feature is to be regarded as satisfying that standard.