Accessible housing for disabled people
It can be difficult to find a house that meets your requirements. You may be considering adapting your home to make it more accessible for your needs, or you may decide that moving to a new home is the better option.
This guide lists a number of support organisations and schemes that can advise and help you to make the best choice for you.
Disabled Home Adaptations
If you are looking for information on disabled home adaptations, please see our Disabled Home Adaptations information guide. This guide describes where you should start if you need an adaptation made to your home.
A good starting point is to ask for an Assessment of Needs from your local council’s social care department. Please see our Assessment of Needs information guide for more information.
Finding the right house for your needs
Housing Options Scotland help disabled people, veterans and older people to find the right house, in the right place.
To register, you will be asked to complete the Request Support form, or you can contact them directly and they will email or post a form to you.
Once they get your completed form they will send you a personalised report with all your potential housing options. It normally takes up to 4 weeks for them to prepare your report. You will be given your own housing broker who will work with you to help make your preferred option a reality.
Home2Fit is an exciting new website. They will match what you want with what’s available and make contact with housing providers who have accessible homes in your area of choice. There are options for social and private rented homes and for home owners. If a home to suit is not yet available housing providers can still see your request and respond to you. Early registration is advised.
Email: admin@home2fit.org.uk
See also Housing Providers in Scotland.
Housing Information and Advice
Disabled Person’s Housing Service Aberdeenshire
Houseability provide information, advice and advocacy services to people with disabilities who have housing issues or problems, to enable them to meet their everyday needs and improve their quality of life within an inclusive community
Location: 1 Carters Close, Peterhead, Aberdeenshire, AB42 1UU
Tel: 01779 490 908
Email: info@houseability.org.uk
Disabled Person’s Housing Service Aberdeen City
Provide housing advice, information and advocacy to disabled people, their families and carers. Based in Aberdeen, the DPHS is constantly developing its services.
Location: Top Floor, Raeden Court, Mid Stocket Road, Aberdeen, AB15 5PF
Tel: 01224 810 222 or 07986 530 507
Email: info@dphsaberdeen.org
Disabled Person’s Housing Service Fife
Provide independent advice and information so that disabled people can have the chance to consider housing options right for them and so enable them to live independently.
Location: West Shop, Law’s Close, 339 High Street, Kirkcaldy, KY1 1JN
Tel: 01592 803 280
Email: enquiries@dphsfife.org.uk
Disabled Person’s Housing Service Scottish Borders
Provide advice, information, support and advocacy for disabled people with housing problems in the Scottish Borders. Location: The Surgery, 1 Orchard Park, St Boswells, TD6 0DA
Tel: 01835 822 099
Email: dphsborders@msn.com
Disabled Persons Housing Services Glasgow
Glasgow Centre for Inclusive Living (GCIL) provide housing information, advice and advocacy services to disabled people seeking housing in Glasgow. Additionally they provide one-to-one support, advice, information and advocacy for people who need an adapted or accessible home in Greater Glasgow.
Tel: 0141 550 4455
Textphone: 0141 554 6482
Email: gcil@gcil.org.uk
Better at Home is a new housing options service which can help you get out of hospital and into a suitable home. The project aims to support older people who want to go home from hospital but who need help because of a housing issue. Better at Home may be able to help you if you:
- are aged 65 or over
- want to live at home but your hospital discharge is delayed because your accommodation does not meet your access needs
- are currently in residential care or a nursing home but would like to find suitable housing in the community
- want to live in Glasgow
Shelter Scotland
Provide advice on housing issues and homelessness. They have a useful page on information for disabled people.
Free housing advice helpline: 0808 800 4444, 9am-5pm, Monday to Friday. Calls are free from UK landlines and main mobile networks.
You can also talk to an adviser online via live chat. This is available weekdays from 10am until 3pm, dependent on adviser availability.
Aids and Equipment
Adapt2Fit a new innovative source of information on Equipment and Adaptations for older and disabled people. If you have difficulty with everyday tasks such as moving around your home, getting up and down stairs, or getting in and out of the bath, managing in the kitchen to prepare food or drinks, then Adapt2Fit can help you find out about equipment to assist with mobility or about adaptations to your home.
This resource was produced by Glasgow Centre for Inclusive Living in partnership with Capability Scotland.
Home2Fit
Home2Fit is a national online database that helps disabled people search for accessible housing. If you are seeking an accessible home to meet your specific needs then you can visit the Home2fit website. Whether you are searching for social housing, private letting or to buy a property, Home2Fit offers a variety of services to help you in your search for an accessible home.
At one end, Home2fit allows landlords, housing associations or estate agents to advertise any adapted properties they have vacant. At the other end, an individual searching for a specifically adapted property can register with Home2fit and search the online database for a suitable match.
Housing Support Services
The House Key is run by the Scottish Government and provides information on housing support services. These are mainly provided by local authorities, housing associations and voluntary sector organisations. They support a wide range of people to live independently within their community by providing practical support and advice. People who may benefit from housing support services include:
- older people
- homeless people
- people with physical or learning disabilities
- people with mental health problems
- people with drug or alcohol problems
- people with HIV or AIDS
- care leaver
- women escaping domestic violence
There are many different kinds of services. Examples include home adaptations for disabled people; visiting support to help with housework and shopping; resettlement support; and community alarms.
The House Key provides a Directory of Housing Support services, divided into three separate search facilities:
- Housing support services, including community alarm and telecare services; women’s refuge services; and ex-offender services
- Sheltered housing is housing designed particularly for older people which includes features to help make their lives easier. There is usually a community alarm or telecare service in case of a fall or other emergency, and some schemes have their own warden or sheltered housing manager. Retirement housing usually has similar features to sheltered housing, but is built for sale.
Sheltered housing may be managed by local authorities, housing associations or private companies. - Home adaptation and repair services. In Scotland home adaptation and repair services are provided by Care and Repair Scotland.
Information last updated on 5 June 2020. 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.
If you would like this information guide in another version then please contact us and we will post or email you a copy.
Access & Accessibility:Frequently Asked Questions
Through our helpline we receive enquiries spanning a wide range of different topics. Here is a selection of those most asked:
Can I use my Blue Badge in Europe?
The Blue Badge scheme is for drivers or passengers with severe mobility problems. The scheme provides a range of on-street parking concessions enabling Blue Badge holders to park closer to where they need to go. The scheme operates throughout the UK and is managed by local authorities who deal with applications and issue badge. The Blue Badge is recognised across Europe, so you benefit from the same parking rights as anyone else with a disability in whichever country you’re in.
Parking concessions for holders of a disabled parking card differ from country to country, so it’s important to check the rules in the country you’re visiting
For further information check out the worldwide guide to parking abroad by The International Automobile Federation.
How can I search for accessible places to visit in Scotland?
Whether you are planning a meal out, a weekend trip or day out to one of Scotland’s parks, there are websites and ‘apps’ that you can use in your search for an accessible venue or activity.
Euan’s Guide is a disabled access review website and app that aims to ‘remove the fear of the unknown’ and inspire people to try new places.
Age Scotland have developed a mini-guide on accessible days out in Britain. Check out the Great British accessible attractions mini-guide.
OpenBritain is your website that provides information on accessible tourism in the UK and includes day trips and tourist attractions.
Disabled Go provide access information on venues across the UK and Ireland.
For more information on accessible places to visit in Scotland search our Scottish Disability Directory and select the ‘Holidays/Respite’ category.
How can I get a RADAR key?
The National Key Scheme (NKS), often referred to as RADAR keys, offer disabled people independent access to locked public accessible toilets around the country. You can buy from Disability Rights UK either over the phone or through their website.
For further information see our Accessible Toilets information guide or the Disability Rights UK website.
Call the Disability Information Scotland helpline on: 0300 323 9961
Access & Accessibility:Search for Local Organisations
Our quick search tool can connect you to over 3000 service providers, suppliers and organisations supporting people across Scotland. To find support near you, simply enter your search term and select your local authority.
| Organisation | Description |
|---|---|
| 25% ME Group | Aims: To offer support and advocacy services to severely affected M.E. sufferers and their carers. Services provided: Advocacy via telephone, or face-to-face (locally) only Helpline for members and their carers offering emotional support Newsletters tw… |
| 27000 | We are open 8 till 8pm all week and weekends however if you need us please email and we will be happy to help. ‘A venue for hire in the heart of Hamilton’ Our venue is available for the whole community and we aim to keep the costs down. A Space… |
| AAT (GB) Ltd | Description of service and products sold: Provide solutions for climbing stairs using powered stair climbers and stair climbing equipment, as well as evacuation and help with disabled access issue. They can also provide information on the Disability Di… |
| Aberdeen Airport Disabled Access Guide | Access guide detailing facilities for disabled people at Aberdeen Airport |
| Aberdeenshire North Access Panel | Aims: To assist and advise in the creation and maintenance of access provision for persons with a disability throughout Aberdeenshire North with reference to buildings, environment and access approaches in general. Services provided: Disability awarene… |
| Aberfoyle Memorial Hall | Description There is a large hall which has a maximum capacity of 100 and a small hall that has a maximum capacity for 20 people. Kitchen facilities available. No catering services. Accessible facilities No disabled parking and only 4 spaces. More car… |
| Ability Shetland | Ability Shetland is a charity which provides direct support to children, families and adults with disabilities and additional support needs. Responding to identified needs, we run groups and clubs and outreach support to individuals. We help people wit… |
| Able Deen | Loan of mobility equipment, safe space, signposting |
| Access Panel Orkney | Raising awareness of access issues in Orkney |
| Access Project (PHSP) | Provide a number of Access guidebooks for travellers |
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