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Disabled Home Adaptations
Council and Housing Association tenants
Introduction
This guide explains where you can get help and advice with housing adaptations. Housing adaptations can help you live safely and independently in your own home by reducing the risk of accidents, and helping you to manage independently.
People who are disabled may get help with, for example,
- replacing a bath with a level access shower
- widening doors or installing a ramp
- fitting lower worktops in a kitchen.
Home repairs, improvements and adaptations – Citizens Advice Scotland
Homeowners
As a starting point, contact your council’s social work department (or NHS Highland in the Highland area) and ask for a Care needs assessment. There is often a delay in making assessments, so let the council know if your need is urgent. An assessment is usually made by an Occupational Therapist (O.T.) visiting you at home to see how you manage day-t0-day. Some people also have Care needs assessments when they are discharged from hospital.
If the council assesses that the adaptations you want are essential they may be able to help with the cost. Each council has a Scheme of Assistance (which should be on their website) that explains the help it can provide to homeowners locally. The help they provide may be advice and guidance, practical help, or financial assistance by way of grants or loans.
The scheme of assistance for house repairs and adaptations – Citizens Advice Scotland
Council and Housing Association tenants
Each council and Housing Association will have a policy about the type of adaptation they are able to provide. If you are asking for help you will usually need to have a Care needs assessment carried out by your council’s Social Work department, or in Highland NHS Highland.
Applications for adaptations are assessed depending on the level of need, and risks to health, wellbeing and independence. Councils and Housing Associations have limited budgets so there may be a delay in receiving help.
Sometimes it may not be possible to adapt a home to meet your needs because, for example, the house is too small to be adapted, or the way the house is built makes it difficult or impossible to change. Your landlord may then suggest other solutions, such as moving to a different property.
Getting home adaptations – Shelter Scotland
Private tenants
If you are a private tenant and you want to adapt your home, you should contact your local council for a Care needs assessment; this will properly assess what adaptations would help you and whether financial help is available.
You cannot carry out adaptations with your landlord’s consent, though they cannot unreasonably refuse their consent. If your landlord refuses consent, get advice quickly from Shelter Scotland about your options.
Getting home adaptations – Shelter Scotland
Adaptations to common areas
Some people will need to make adaptations to common areas or “common parts”, shared with neighbours, to make their home accessible. This can be complicated, especially if neighbours object. The process you need to follow is explained on the Citizens Advice Scotland website here Adapting common parts for your disability – Citizens Advice
Care and Repair
Care and Repair services operate throughout most of Scotland. Services vary, but they usually offer older homeowners and disabled people advice and assistance to help repair, improve or adapt their homes. You can find details of your local Care and Repair service at at http://www.careandrepairscotland.co.uk
Information last updated on 13th November 2024. Please note that information may be subject to change. All information is provided in good faith but Disability Information Scotland does not endorse any product or service referred to within this resource.
We are grateful to the Scottish Government for funding this publication
