Tackling budget cuts and the housing adaptations crisis: A call to action
This week, the UK Government has withdrawn a pledge to increase the Disabled Facilities Grant, which funds home adaptations for disabled people in the UK.
The static cap of £30,000 on the Disabled Facilities Grant has been in place since 2008 and has not kept pace with inflation. This means the grant now offers significantly less financial support for necessary home adaptations for disabled people.
Despite the Local Government Association drawing attention to the inadequacy of the sum, the Government has not updated the cap but added £100 million to the grant over two years. This situation has left families struggling to afford necessary home adaptations, forcing them to seek alternative funding. In addition, inflation has significantly impacted the cost of manufacturing products in the UK, resulting in high costs across the home adaptation sector. Grants and financial assistance programmes should be adjusted to reflect this.
The recent findings of the 2019-20 English Housing Survey are a harsh reminder of the worsening situation and should serve as a catalyst for change. With 53% of households lacking necessary adaptations, it is evident that urgent action is needed.
Oxfordshire-based bathroom adaptation specialists Absolute Mobility recognises the concerning implications of these statistics and presses for the housing adaptation crisis to be at the forefront of the UK property sector’s agenda.
Director of Absolute Mobility Darren O’Connell comments: “It is disappointing to hear that the Government’s promise to increase funds to adapt disabled people’s homes has been shelved. At a time when families are experiencing the cost-of-living crisis, every bit of help counts. I firmly believe that addressing this issue is a shared responsibility, necessitating collaboration between policymakers, industry stakeholders and communities at large. By implementing a comprehensive approach, including retrofitting initiatives, universal design principles, support services and regulatory measures, we can work towards a future where suitable and adaptable housing is the norm, not the exception. Our population deserves nothing less.”
This multi-faceted approach requires increased investment in retrofitting existing properties to meet the needs of households requiring adaptations, such as ramps, grab rails or wider doorways that make a home more accessible for people with disabilities or limited mobility. Implementing revised grant schemes or tax incentives for homeowners or landlords undertaking this type of modification could also incentivise action.
Absolute Mobility specialises in accessible bathroom design and installations. Established in 2009, the company installs walk-in baths, easy-access showers, wet rooms and power baths for customers who require safe-to-use and easy-to-access bathing facilities. With its headquarters in Oxfordshire, the company’s team of dedicated designers and installers covers East England, London, the South East and the South West.
