PART 3

Access to services etc
CHAPTER 1

Residential tenancies

Codes of practice

Discrimination
33
1
The Secretary of State must issue a code of practice specifying what a landlord or agent should or should not do to ensure that, while avoiding liability to pay a penalty under this Chapter, the landlord or agent also avoids contravening—
a
the Equality Act 2010, so far as relating to race, or
b
the Race Relations (Northern Ireland) Order 1997 (S.I. 1997/869 (N.I. 6)).
2
The Secretary of State must from time to time review the code and may revise and re-issue it following a review.
3
Before issuing the code (or a revised code) the Secretary of State must consult—
a
the Commission for Equality and Human Rights,
b
the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland, and
c
such persons representing the interests of landlords and tenants as the Secretary of State considers appropriate.
4
After consulting under subsection (3) the Secretary of State must—
a
publish a draft code, and
b
consider any representations made about the published draft.
5
The code (or revised code)—
a
may not be issued unless a draft has been laid before Parliament (prepared after considering representations under subsection (4)(b) and with or without modifications to reflect the representations), and
b
comes into force in accordance with provision made by order of the Secretary of State.
6
A breach of the code—
a
does not make a person liable to civil or criminal proceedings, but
b
may be taken into account by a court or tribunal.