Getting adaptations

Moving around your home

If there is a wheelchair user in your household, think about:

• widening door frames and installing new doors
• having everything on one floor
• installing a stair lift
• fitting a ‘through-floor’ wheelchair lift – this involves making a hole in the ceiling(s) and installing a lift to move between floors

Second banister rails can also be installed so you can hold onto both sides to help you get up and down stairs more easily and safely.

Washing and getting dressed

There are a number of different adaptations that can make washing and dressing easier, such as installing:

• a wet room – a waterproofed room with a walk-in shower that isn’t separated by a step
• a hoist to lift you in and out of the bath
• grab rails to make it easier to get in and out of the bath.

Emergency exits

If you or someone in your household is disabled, or has reduced mobility, think about how you will get out of the property in the event of an emergency. For people with serious mobility problems, consider having your bedroom as close as possible to an exit or a safe area.

Smoke alarms

If you or someone in your household has a hearing impairment, think about installing smoke alarms with a vibrating pad or a flashing light. You could also place smoke alarms with strobe lights outside your home to get the attention of neighbours or members of the public.

If you rent your home your landlord has responsibility to install smoke alarms.  Another thing worth thinking about is an emergency alarm call system – this is an alarm which plugs into your telephone and calls for outside help in the event of a fire.

Gov.Uk have produced a fire safety leaflet for those with sight, hearing or mobility difficulties.

In the bedroom

There are a number of adaptations you can use to get into and stay in bed, such as an adjustable bed, leg lifters or rails to stop you from falling out of bed.

Gadgets

A number of gadgets are available to people with disabilities. You can get more information and factsheets from the Disabled Living Foundation.

Do I need my landlord’s agreement to have adaptations?

If you rent your home, you will need your landlord’s agreement before any adaptations are carried out. Contact your landlord as soon as possible and explain what adaptations you need.

It is important to think about what rights you have before getting adaptations done. It may not be worth you getting them done if your landlord could evict you easily or you have a short-term renting agreement.

Can I get help to get the adaptations done?

Whether you own or rent your home, you might be able to get help for any adaptations through the ENABLE – Support for Independent Living scheme.

Under the scheme, there are three levels of adaptations:

• small – such as hand rails, portable ramps etc. These can usually be fitted for you free of charge regardless of your means.
• medium – such as stair lifts, wider doors etc. You might need to pay a contribution towards these, depending upon your income and savings.
• large – these are adaptations that need significant work on your home, such as an extension or a though-floor lift. You are likely to have to pay a contribution towards these, depending upon your income and savings. You will also need a needs assessment by social services.

For more information on the scheme, including who to contact in your area to make an application, look at the UK Government website.

Can I get a grant?

Under the ENABLE scheme, small adaptations are generally provided free of charge.

For adaptations costing over £1,000, you may be able to get a council grant, known as a Disabled Facilities Grant, to cover some or all of the cost. Disabled Facilities Grants can provide up to £36,000. Whether or not you will get a grant depends on:

• the reason the adaptations are needed
• your income and any savings over £6,000
• how much money the council has in its budget

Contract-holders and homeowners can apply for grants. Application forms are available from the council.

The Disabled Facilities Grant (DFG) is a mandatory grant administered by local authorities which is used to contribute towards the cost of home adaptations. In Wales, a DFG is generally used to fund larger and more costly adaptations. The maximum amount that can be awarded for a DFG is £36,000. The grant is available to people of all ages and in all housing tenures, though people who rent their home will need permission from their landlord before applying. The DFG is subject to a means test. Applicants may have to make a contribution for Home aids and adaptations – a guide for constituents towards the cost of the adaptations. However, in 2021 the Welsh Government directed local authorities to remove the means test for small and medium DFGs as a condition for receiving ENABLE funding. Means tests are also not applied where an application for a grant is made by the parent or guardian of a disabled child (under 16) or young person (under 19). The statutory framework for DFGs is set out in the Housing Grants, Construction and Regeneration Act 1996. For a grant to be approved, local authorities must be satisfied that the works are “necessary and appropriate to meet the needs of the disabled occupant” and that it is “reasonable and practicable to carry out the relevant works having regard to the age and condition” of the dwelling. Section 23 of the 1996 Act sets out the purposes for which a DFG grant must or may be given. Section 3 of the Disabled Facilities Grants (Maximum Amounts and Additional Purposes) (Wales) Order 2008 adds two additional purposes for DFGs in Wales. A local authority must notify you of its decision to approve or refuse a grant application within 6 months of receiving it. If your application is refused, the local authority must let you know the reasons for the refusal. The Welsh Government’s guidance on DFGs can be found in the National Assembly for Wales Circular 20/2002 (Annex D). It was last revised in 2010.

The Rapid Response Adaptations Programme (RRAP) is funded by the Welsh Government and delivered through Care & Repair Cymru and other agencies across Wales. The purpose of the programme is to fund minor adaptations, such as handrails, to enable people to return from hospital to their own homes. It is available to owner occupiers and private tenants.

The Physical Adaptations Grant (PAG) supports housing associations to meet the cost of making adaptations to properties they own. Funds are allocated to eligible social housing providers on an annual basis and are used to support medium or large adaptations. In January 2021, the then Minister for Climate Change, Julie James MS, stated that 5 Home aids and adaptations – a guide for constituents housing associations had been given control over their PAG budget, “to allow them to take a more strategic approach to adaptations and increase the stock of accessible housing in Wales more generally”. Local authorities may also use their own funds for home adaptation works. Under the Regulatory Reform (Housing Assistance) (England and Wales) Order 2002, local authorities can introduce discretionary forms of assistance (e.g. grants or loans) and are able to set their own conditions or financial limits. This might be used to top-up a DFG, or instead of a DFG.

For more information on Disabled Facilities Grants see here.

If you think you might need help paying for care and support at home, on top of any adaptations, then see our advice here.

Is moving out your best option?

If you can’t get adaptations done you may need to look into other housing options. You could consider:

• moving to a specially adapted property
• moving to sheltered housing – where you can live independently, but with somebody looking out for you in case of emergencies
• moving to a care home – depending on your age and disability.

You may be able to get help from the council if it is not reasonable for you to stay in your home. Contact a Shelter Cymru adviser who can discuss your options with you.

Where can I get more help and information?

The Equality and Human Rights Commission has published a helpful guide Your rights to accessible and adaptable housing in Wales which contains lots of useful information about adapting your home, whether you are a tenant or owner.

The council’s social services department may be able to carry out a needs assessment that will include adaptations if necessary. For older and disabled people Care and Repair Cymru may be able to help you organise adaptations to your home.

Information & Support

Age Cymru – provides information and advice to older people. They publish detailed factsheets and guides on their website which explain how to access home adaptations, equipment and social care assessments. Website: www. ageuk.org.uk/cymru/our-work/in-your-area/. Advice line: 0300 303 44 98. Email: [email protected]

Care & Repair Cymru – provides assistance for older and disabled people to remain in their own homes. They can help to identify sources of funding, as well as organise the fitting of aids and adaptations. Website: careandrepair. org.uk/our-agencies/

Citizens Advice – provides free, confidential and independent advice on a range of issues. Website: www.citizensadvice.org.uk/wales. Advice line: 0800 702 2020.  Disability Justice Project – publishes guides and resources which help disabled people to understand and exercise their rights. Website: www.disabilityjustice. org.uk/

Equality Advisory Support Service (EASS) – if you’ve experienced discrimination under the Equality Act 2010, you can get help from the EASS helpline. Website: www.equalityadvisoryservice.com/app/home. Advice line: 0808 800 0082

Living Made Easy – publishes free impartial advice and information on solutions, gadgets, adaptations and aids to make life easier. Website: www. livingmadeeasy.org.uk/  Scope – a disability equality charity that provides information and support relevant to disabled people. Website: www.scope.org.uk/advice-and-support