08/12/2021
So I did a thing I bought a house!
Accessible properties are very hard to find. Over the next 12 months I will be renovating my house to turn it into a home that meets my needs.
I’m very fortunate that I am able to do this however not all disabled people are or have access to appropriate housing that meets their needs.
A report by the equality and human rights commission found that:
🏡 disabled people are too often demoralised and frustrated by the housing system
🏡 there is a significant shortage of accessible homes
🏡 installing home adaptations involves unacceptable bureaucracy and delay
🏡 disabled people are not getting the support that they need to live independently
68% of local Authorities report that developers do not always comply with accessibility requirements, but only 3% have taken action against a developer on accessibly grounds. currently, 1 in 7 disabled people in their own homes live in unsuitable accommodation and 1 in 3 disabled people in privately rented accommodation in unsuitable housing.
The financial, emotional and human costs of inaccessible housing are well documented. They include increased need for social care, increased reliance on carers and family members, accidents (which can be life-changing or fatal), and avoidable hospital admissions and lengthy stays in hospital.
Inaccessible housing is also associated with poor employment outcomes among working- age adults. People with inaccessible homes are four times more likely to be unemployed or not seeking work than those whose needs are met, or who are disabled but do not require accessible housing (Habinteg and Papworth Trust, 2016).
Findings from a survey of disabled people found that around half of respondents whose housing requirements had been met reported feeling safer and more in control. Additionally, roughly a quarter of respondents reported better social contact and improvements in their health and wellbeing (Habinteg and Papworth Trust, 2016).
Increasing the supply of new accessible houses starts with improving the ways in which disabled people’s requirements are built into national policy and law. Building standards vary across Britain, but they all provide the template that developers adhere to when building new homes.
Adapting a typical home costs up to 5 times more then making one adaptable at the design stage.
