Your rights if you're disabled and rent your home

Your landlord should provide certain services and adjustments to help you live in your home.

If you rent from the council or a housing association, they should also consider making changes to physical features of your property if needed.

It’s unlawful for your landlord to discriminate against you because you’re disabled. 

Your landlord’s responsibilities

What your landlord has to provide depends on who your landlord is.

There are certain reasonable adjustments that landlords should provide that help you to live in your home. Some of these are called auxiliary aids.

Examples of adjustments that could be provided if you rent from a private landlord, the council or housing association include:

• a tenancy agreement in Braille, large print or easy read

• signs in Braille or large print, such as a fire safety notice

• a doorbell or entry phone system you can use more easily

• accessible door handles

• accessible taps for the kitchen and bathroom

Your landlord does not have to provide auxiliary aids if you live with them or if you live in a boarding house.

To get help choosing auxiliary aids, contact Disability Information Scotland.

Landlords should also change certain policies or practices if they disadvantage you because of your disability. These are sometimes called a provision, criterion or practice (PCP).

For example, if they only allow rent payments by bank transfer and your disability makes this difficult for you.

If you rent from the council or housing association

Social landlords have a duty to provide other adjustments that may require some physical alteration to the property. Examples include:

• a ramp, if you use a wheelchair

• any furnishings you need to use the house, such as a raised seat for your toilet

• a wider space in the car park

• fixed adaptations or installations, like an accessible shower or bath

They may not have to provide these if:

• it's expensive and there are cheaper alternatives

• they do not have the power to make the change alone and other owners object to it, for example changes to the stairwell or other communal areas

If you rent from a private landlord or letting agent

Your landlord does not usually have to pay for the changes to physical features of your home. They should usually agree for you to make the changes yourself.

Getting adaptations done

If you want to make adaptations to your home, ask your landlord’s permission first. They must consider reasonable requests.

Your landlord does not have to reimburse you for the adaptation, but you can ask if they will come to an agreement. Get any agreements in writing.

You may be able to get a grant to help fund adaptations.

Check our advice on getting home adaptations done.

If you disagree with your landlord's decision on adjustments or adaptations

If you and your landlord disagree on what they should provide, contact the Equality Advisory Support Service.

A disability rights specialist could help you negotiate with your landlord on what help they should provide.

If you're being evicted

You do not have to move out if you've been sent an eviction notice. You can ask a court or tribunal to stop or delay the eviction.

You could have extra protection if:

• you're being evicted for a reason related to your disability

• your disability means eviction would have a serious impact on you

Check our advice on defending an eviction if you have a disability.

If you’re being discriminated against

Your landlord or letting agent cannot:

• harass you in any way

• refuse to rent to you because you’re disabled

• give you a less secure tenancy because you're disabled

• charge more rent or deposit than they charge tenants without your impairment

• evict you because you’re ill or disabled

• refuse to let you keep an assistance dog

• refuse to let you use additional facilities which are available to tenants without your impairment

• include terms in your tenancy agreement they would not include for someone without your impairment

• make you wait longer on a council or housing association waiting list because you’re disabled

If you’ve experienced any of these, check our advice on dealing with housing discrimination.