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Accessibility and adaptability

Relevant papers on accessible and adaptable new and existing accommodation for older and disabled people, including Accessible Housing Registers. The Housing LIN is also proud to be a founding member of the Housing Made for Everyone (HoME) Coalition and a signatory of the 7 point charter addressing the lack of accessible housing.

Accessible independent housing for people with disabilities: A scoping review

Published in the PLOS ONE journal, this review studied research in 18 countries to understand promising practices, policies and interventions regarding accessible independent housing for people with disabilities.

Key Skills for Housing Adaptations: A Workbook for Occupational Therapists and Students

Highlighting the long-term benefits environmental adjustments can afford, this book delves into the crucial role occupational therapists play in helping those with additional needs to adapt their homes in order to have a better quality of life.

Material Information in Property Listings

National Trading Standards have published updated guidance to improve material information about accessibility in property listings.

Living not existing: The social value of wheelchair user homes

To coincide with Accessible Homes Week 2023, Habinteg shares key findings from their research with London School of Economics into the social and economic value of wheelchair user homes.

Wheelchair-accessible Housing: It’s a Lottery!

Written by Joan Rutherford, Chair of the National Network of Older People’s Housing Champions, this Housing LIN guest blog is based on a talk to at Housing 2023 in Manchester and reflects on a 2022 Big Disability Survey by Greater Manchester Disable People's Panel and some of the creative strategies that wheelchair users have to employ to get the home most take for granted.

Adapting the adaptations process: Tackling the barriers within policy and practice

This report gives insight to the fragmented policy landscape in Scotland around adaptations, with further experiences gathered from England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Raising accessibility standards for new homes: Govt support for raising accessibility for new homes

The government have published their long-awaited response to the consultation on raising accessibility standards for new homes. The 2020 consultation sought views on how to raise accessibility of new homes and put a number of options forward in relation to improving Part M of the Building Regulations. As a member of the HoME Coalition - calling for stronger rules on accessibility -the Housing LIN supported proposals for Part M4(2) as the minimum accessibility standard as is delighted by the outcome of the consultation and the government’s proposals to adopt Part M4(2) as a minimum standard.

Housing Associations and Home Adaptations: Finding ways to say yes

This report, published by Foundations and produced in partnership with Habinteg and Anchor Hanover with support from Taylor Wimpey, follows the publication of the Independent Review of DFG in 2018 and provides guidance on delivering better home adaptations in social housing.

Disabled Facilities Grant delivery: guidance for local authorities in England

The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities and Department of Health and Social Care have issued guidance for local authorities in England on the effective delivery of the Disabled Facilities Grant (DFG) to best serve the needs of local older and disabled people.

Housing associations, home adaptations and independent lives: Finding ways to say yes

Published by Foundations, the national umbrella body for home improvement agencies in England, in partnership with Anchor Hanover, Habinteg and Taylor Wimpey, this paper provides guidance on delivering home adaptations in social housing, including how local authorities and housing associations can work better together.

Good homes for all - A proposal to fix England's housing

This report reveals the findings from the Good Home Inquiry, supported by the Centre for Ageing Better, that was set up in 2020 to investigate the causes of the crisis of poor-quality housing in England and determine potential policy solutions.

The Good Home Dialogue - The homes we have and the homes we want

With over four million poor-quality homes in England, new research from BritainThinks highlights the main barriers, motivations and favoured policy solutions to how we improve the nation’s homes.

English Housing Survey Home adaptations report, 2019-20

The most recent English Housing Survey and report reflects on a year heavily impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Housing policy and poor-quality homes

This report by CaCHE (Collaborative Centre for Housing Evidence) for the Centre for Ageing Better's The Good Home Inquiry presents a series of recommendations on addressing housing quality in England and its impact on older people.

Now is the time: A report by the CSJ Disability Commission

Ahead of the upcoming National Strategy for Disabled People, the Centre for Social Justice Disability Commission has published a report with ambitious and transformational recommendations across a range of goods and services sectors, including a chapter on housing.

Adapting the Private Rented Sector

The National Residential Landlords Association has launched a report and guidance to help inform landlords of the role they can play in supporting the UK’s ageing population and disabled renters .

More Than Marginal Interest: Dementia in Local Housing Policies

A report by Foundations states that dementia needs should be positioned more central to the current framework of housing and health rather than in the margin and calls for action.

Research into Part M Access to and Use of Buildings

MHCLG have published the research they commissioned from PRP Innovate on Part M access to and use of buildings.

A Forecast for accessible homes 2020

This briefing by Habinteg Housing Association reveals that over half of English local housing policies still failing disabled & older people.

Charities and housing organisations call on public to back proposals for better homes

As part of The Housing Made for Everyone (HoME) coalition, we have produced a guide and are calling for urgent action to tackle the UK's accessible housing crisis by raising the mandatory building standards in response to the government's current consultation.

Wheelchair Guide for Accessible Bathroom

AKW, a manufacturer of accessible toilets and bathrooms, have produced a short guide on designing a wheelchair accessible bathroom.

Creating Community and Belonging in a Designated Housing Estate for Disabled People

This article in the journal Cogitatio thematic journal, Home, Housing and Communities: Foundations for Inclusive Society, presents findings from the University of the Highlands and Islands, Scotland. It highlights how, in recent years, there has been an ideological push within social care away from segregated housing provision towards supported housing integrated within the wider community.

Inclusive Social Lettings Practice: Opportunities to Enhance Independent Living for Disabled People

This article in Cogitatio thematic journal, Home, Housing and Communities: Foundations for Inclusive Society, by the University of Stirling, highlights that appropriate housing is a key element of independent living for disabled people. The article examines access to social rented housing as a route to independent living, through a study of lettings practice for accessible and adapted homes

English Housing Survey 2018-19: Accessibility of English homes

This MHCLG factsheet sets out the four criteria that determine what constitutes an accessible home. It also displays useful facts and figures displayed in a series of infographics that illustrate the state of accessibility and adaptability of residential properties in England and how they meet the criteria.

Coronavirus and ensuring a safe hospital discharge to a secure home

Becky shares shares how the city’s HIA service has responded speedily to Coronavirus, prioritising its urgent work to enable a safe and secure hospital discharge back home thereby reducing the risk of exposure to infection.

Design guide for wheelchair accessible housing: Occupational Therapy Service

This design guide, published by Portsmouth City Council, represents good practice in home design for wheelchair users. It's involved the input of architects, surveyors and occupational therapists; and contains information from design briefs of leading housing providers and local authorities.

Meeting the home adaptation needs of older people: Is your council actively addressing residents’ need for help with home adaptations?

This recently updated report from the LGA, in association with ADASS, Age UK and Care & Repair England, explores the crucial role of housing adaptations in supporting people’s independence and reducing demand on stretched social care and health services. It now also includes fresh links to relevant resources on tackling coronavirus.

Ageing in the right place: An Australian perspective

The Global Centre for Modern Ageing in Australia has released a report looking at the impact of aging the role that home adaptations can play in supporting choice for an older person to remain at home.

“What? That’s for Old People, that.” Home Adaptations, Ageing and Stigmatisation: A Qualitative Inquiry

This article in the International Journal of Environmental Health and Public Health by Northumbria University in partnership with Newcastle University and the Newcastle older persons’ forum draws on a Centre for Ageing Better commission.

The power of good design

Our latest Housing LIN guest blog focuses on the need for good design in home adaptations.

Help with home adaptations: Improving local services

This guide by Care & Repair England includes a list of possible questions that anyone with an interest in improving delivery of home adaptations will find useful in discussions with local providers.

Wellbeing at Home: A study of the process and outcomes of home adaptations and reflections for future practice

This report captures the process and final outcomes of several major home adaptations undertaken by Archadia Chartered Architects, working closely with a South West London Council over the last three years.

Act to Adapt

This report from the Motor Neurone Disease (MND) Association calls for better access to housing adaptations for people with MND.

Match Me – What works for adapted social housing lettings?

Match Me was an 18-month action research project into the allocation of adapted and accessibly designed social housing and what enhanced independent living for disabled people.

The lived experience of bathing adaptations in the homes of older adults and their carers (BATH‐OUT): A qualitative interview study

The aim of this study was to explore the views and experiences of older adults and their carers who had received a bathing adaptation in order to examine how the adaptation had affected them and identify mechanisms of impact and outcomes from their perspectives.

Home Truths Rebutting 10 myths about building accessible housing

This Age UK and Habinteg factsheet challenges the myths that delivering accessible housing is "too costly, too difficult or simply undesirable for buyers"

Adaptations Without Delay

This RCOT report, written by the Housing LIN, is intended to be used by practitioners and organisations across the UK who may be contacted by disabled and older people and their families who are seeking advice or support with home adaptations

A Forecast for Accessible Homes

This new report from Habinteg looks at English plans for building accessible housing up to 2030.

Adapted Homes, Empowered Lives

This new report looks at how home adaptations can transform the lives of those with arthritis.

UK on verge of accessible housing crisis

Poll shows most British people want homes to suit all ages and abilities

What are you having done?

The second part of a series of blogs by Margaret Edwards, the Housing LIN's London regional lead, about her and her husband's decision at age 60 to turn their 1950’s house into an accessible home.

External Review of Disabled Facilities Grant (DFG) and Other Adaptations

An independent review of the Disabled Facilities Grant which features 45 recommendations to the government to overhaul the current system.

How do people access and experience home adaptations? Perspectives from people in later life and practitioners

This Housing LIN case study report summarises the findings from recent research conducted on the lived experiences of home adaptations, funded by the Centre for Ageing Better

Housing and disabled people: A toolkit for local authorities in England

A toolkit from Habinteg and EHRC advising about best practice for planning, designing, and adapting housing for people with disabilities.

Accessible Housing in Local Plans 2018

In 2018 Habinteg assessed accessible housing requirements in place in local planning authorities across England.

Adapting for Ageing: Good practice and innovation in home adaptations

This report highlights the best examples of English councils, as well as providers such as handyperson services, working to support local people to keep living in their own homes for longer, particularly those who are managing health conditions or have experienced a loss of mobility.

Small but Significant: The impact and cost benefits of handyperson services

This report from Care & Repair England concludes that handyperson services offer a high rate of return on investment, as well as wider social benefits, and are highly prized by older people, particularly 'older old' single women living alone.

Homes that help: A personal and professional perspective on home adaptations

This Centre for Ageing Better report uses primary research to offer recommendations on how to improve the approach and process around home adaptations.

Housing and Disabled People: Britain's hidden crisis

As part of three inquiry reports provided by the EHRC, this report focusing on housing and disabled people in Britain, highlights the challenges of unsuitable housing for disabled people, as well as making recommendations to tackle this crisis.

Disabled adaptations in leasehold flats and common parts

This House of Commons Library paper provides an outline of the legal position of long leaseholders in blocks of flats in England and Wales who require adaptations to enable access into and around their homes.

Home-owners and poverty

This report from the JRF has found that poor housing conditions among home-owners in poverty, particularly older outright owners, need greater attention.

Still minding the step? A new estimation of the housing needs of wheelchair users in Scotland

Horizon Housing Association have produced this report to explore the significance of accessible housing in facilitating national and local policies and strategic plans.

Adapting housing for independent living

The Welsh Audit Office has released a report on adapting housing for older and disabled people.

ODESSA: Optimising care delivery models to support ageing-in-place

This report brings together international research findings on current long-term care delivery models for older people and assesses the key factors that allow them to live independently for longer.

Wheelchair Housing Design Guide: 3rd Edition

Habinteg's new edition of their ‘Wheelchair Housing Design Guide’, explaining how to design and detail a home that is fully manageable by wheelchair users and maximises their independence.

Older people preparing their homes for staying put

Findings of research commissioned by Care & Support England, that attempts to ascertain the views on home adaptations of UK residents aged 55 or over.

The role of home adaptations in improving later life

The findings from this Centre for Ageing Better and UWE report identify that small changes to homes can improve quality of life and relieve pressure on NHS and social care

Room to improve. The role of home adaptation in improving later life

This systematic review of the best recent scientific evidence on how home adaptations can contribute to improving later lives is the second of two new resources from the Centre for Ageing Better and the University of West of England.

Adapting for Change: evaluation

Evaluation report on Adapting for Change, an initiative testing and developing recommendations on housing adaptations commissioned by the Scottish Government.

London Plan: Annual Monitoring Report 2015/16

This GLA report includes a section on monitoring new accessible and adaptable dwellings in London as part of the Mayor of London’s objective to ‘Achieving Inclusive Environments’

Accessible housing policy update

This briefing from Habinteg outlines the current UK housing policy landscape for accessible housing and provides recommendations for a more inclusive future

Ageing & mobility in the built environment

This Adaptation and Resilience in the Context of Change (ARCC) Network paper provides a summary of 8 funded under the Lifelong Health and Wellbeing programme

Matching up? A pilot study of effectiveness in letting adapted social housing

This report by the University of Stirling for Horizon, part of the Link group in central Scotland, sought to design and test a research method for evaluating the effectiveness of lettings procedures for adapted housing.

Creating homes that people would like to live in rather than have to live in: Is there a role for occupational therapists in the design of housing?

This Housing LIN Viewpoint no 85 explores the unique skill set that Occupational Therapists can bring to ensure that homes are accessible and adaptable to the changing needs of residents as they age....

Disabled facilities grants for home adaptations

This House of Commons briefing paper provides an overview of the disabled facilities grants (DFGS) system and other help available to secure disabled adaptations in residential premises. The note focuses...

No Place Like an Accessible Home

This report from Habinteg Housing and Papworth Trust considers the extent of need for housing which has accessible features and the impact on disabled people of living in a home where their need for such a feature is not met.

Innovation in home adaptations - a fresh chance

This report was produced by Care and Repair England with the support of Public Health England. Its purpose is to explain the new conditions with regard to the Better Care Fund 2016-17, the substantial...

European Federation for Living Design Competition: Accessible Housing 2015-2016

This jury report and book of designs from the EFL's Accessible Housing Design student competition features the winning 2015-2016 entries. The competition brief outlined the changing needs of European...

The role of homes adaptations in later life Evidence review scope - draft for consultation

The Centre for Ageing Better is exploring how home adaptations improve later life and what your views. It is inviting feedback on a draft plan for a systematic review on how adaptations to people's homes...

Making a house a home: Local Authorities and disabled adaptations: Learning lessons from complaints

This Local Government Ombudsman report: reveals that people with disabilities are being left for too long in unsuitable homes because of problems with councils' Disabled Facilities Grants processes...

Home Improvements: A Social Justice Approach to Housing Policy

This report from the Centre for Social Justice includes a section on increasing housing options for people with disabilities. It notes an under supply of accessible and adaptable housing and that, for...

The health and wellbeing of spinal cord injured adults and the family: Examining lives in adapted and unadapted homes

Aspire commissioned research report into the impact of housing spinal injured people in inaccessible housing has found 86% of people with SCI are likely to be discharged into a home that doesn't meet...

Home Modification Practice in Australia

This Housing LIN Case Study no 119 by Home Design for Living sets out: an overview of current Australian home modification practice in the context of changing government policy and service delivery...

7 points about the new Housing Standards 2015

This briefing by Habinteg explains the important policy changes to accessible housing standards across England that came into force on 1 October 2015. While the new accessibility standards will be included...

Accessible Housing Policies Failing in Practice: Disabled Community Failed by Policies Designed to Help

This report by The House Shop is based on a 'secret shopper' exercise to evaluate the success of accessibility measures on 15 developments in London providing accessible housing for the disabled community,...

Breaking point: the crisis in accessible housing and adaptations

This report by the Muscular Dystrophy UK states that local authorities are failing to act on a mounting housing crisis in adaptations and accessible housing for people with muscle-wasting conditions....

The Care Act, Better Care Funds and Home Adaptations - An Opportunity to Improve Outcomes?

This briefing by Care & Repair England explains the changes, clarifies responsibilities, and highlights opportunities for integration resulting from the Care Act.

Disabled Facilities Grant Funding via Better Care Funds - An Opportunity to Improve Outcomes

This briefing by Care and Repair England and Public Health England explains the changes to the provision of national government funding for home adaptations, clarify the responsibilities for delivery...

Disabled Facilities Grants 2015

This briefing from Habinteg Housing Association explains the important changes taking place to Disabled Facilities Grant (DFG) funding, now administered locally through the Better Care Fund. DFG funding...

The Long Wait for a Home

This is new report from Leonard Cheshire Disability is the 4 th in their Home Truths series and focuses on the significant delays disabled people face when waiting for adaptations to their homes. Key...

Housing - optional technical standards (accessibility & wheelchair housing standards)

In March 2015, following consultation on accessible design standards, the government issued guidance on how planning authorities can gather evidence to set optional requirements and the nationally described...

No Place Like Home

This report from Leonard Cheshire Disability calls for more disabled-friendly and adaptable homes to be built across the UK. The key findings set out in the report include: 300,000 disabled people...

A Shock to the System - Electrical Safety in an Ageing Society

This report by Care & Repair Cymru was commissioned by Electrical Safety First. Findings Older people, whether it is due to the housing conditions they live in, the health conditions they may have...

Wheelchair Accessible Housing: Waiting for Appropriate Housing in England

This report by Aspire Housing Association finds that there is a huge housing shortage for wheelchair users in England; with almost 24,000 still waiting for appropriate social or affordable housing. Part...

For future living: Innovative approaches to join up housing + health

This report from IPPR looks at how England's housing should respond to the pressures of an ageing population. The link between population ageing and increased health costs is well recognised, but the...

Making local communities inclusive

Disability Rights UK have published new materials setting out key messages on making local communities inclusive. They include two guides on inclusive communities for disability organisations and one...

Housing in Later Life

This report from Age UK puts forward a raft of recommendations to the Government, local authorities and the building industry on housing in later life. They include: All new mainstream and specialised...

The Hidden Housing Crisis

This report by Leonard Cheshire Disability calls for more disabled-friendly houses to be built. Their campaign, 'Home Truths' calls for house builders and all political parties commit to making sure the...

Design of Accessible and Adaptable General Needs Housing

This British Standards Institute document (BS9266) provides details on the general principles of accessibility in relation to access to and within, and use of, residential buildings.

Inclusive Design Hub for the Built Environment

The Design Council CABE's 'hub' provides information on what is inclusive design and why it matters. It signposts to a collection of the latest guidance and best practice on inclusive design in the built...

At Home

This briefing, part of ILC-UK and Age UK's 'Community Matters' series, examines how people ageing in the community can be supported through good design, planning and adaptation of their homes to support...

Integrated by Design

This is the third report by PRP Architects succinctly summarising the current provision and emerging trends in housing and care for older people in the United Kingdom, such as 'community hubs'. It highlights...

Housing Standards Review

The government have issued a written statement and a summary of responses to last year's Housing Standards Review and Technical Standards. Of particular note where the proposals on accessibility and...

Adapting to the Challenges of an Ageing Population for Social Housing

Drawing on research by Heriot-Watt University, commissioned by the DCLG, Housing LIN Viewpoint no 57 makes that case for improving access to information on local accessible and adaptable accommodation...

Access point: Improving housing choice for disabled people

This Housing LIN Viewpoint no 35 for the Housing LIN by Claire Wise at the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea explores the role of accessible housing registers in ensuring that accessible homes are...

From Home Adaptations to Accessible Homes: Putting people at the heart of redesigning the adaptation service in Bristol

This Housing LIN Case Study no 62 gives a comprehensive account of the service review and resultant change management applied by Bristol City Council to redesign and deliver a more focused person-centred,...

How to... make effective use of adapted properties

This guide from the Chartered Institute of Housing provide guidance, examples and tips to support those working in housing management to help better understand the housing needs of older and disabled...

Wheelchair homes design guidelines: Guidelines to achieve the necessary standards for wheelchair users’ dwellings

The SE London Housing Partnership ‘Wheelchair Homes Design Guidelines’ has been devised to ensure that new affordable homes for wheelchair users are provided to the necessary standards

Designing for Accessibility

This design guide is the acknowledged benchmark reference and is used as an access standard for grant providers and other organisations.

A Progressive Approach to Accessible Housing

This new Housing LIN Viewpoint no 22 is by a co-author of the influential HAPPI report. Written by Julia Park, Levitt Bernstein Architects, she proposes a way of accommodating accessible housing within...

Is now the time to review provision for special needs?: Lessons from the Olympics

This Housing LIN Viewpoint no 36 chronicles how public policy has addressed 'special needs' provision over the years but asks whether, following the Olympics and Paralympics, the time is now right to...

Costs and effectiveness of accessible housing registers in a choice-based lettings context

This report by Heriot-Watt University for DCLG examines the costs and effectiveness of accessible housing registers in a choice-based lettings context via a small number of case studies that are illustrative of the issues and the associated costs and (financial) benefits for social landlords rather than providing a full analysis of cost-effectiveness.