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, 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.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Information last updated on 1 February 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.
If you would like this information guide in another version then please contact us and we will post or email you a copy.
Access and 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:
How can I get a RADAR key?
The National Key Scheme (NKS), often referred to as RADAR keys, offers 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.
You can also purchase RADAR keys through some chemists and online.
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 and 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 |
|---|---|
| Altogether Travel | Services provided: Altogether Travel is the award winning Supported Holiday and Travel company. This unique service combines a travel agent with a care company, they are the UK’s first Care Inspectorate registered travel company. This means they can… |
| Angus Access Panel | Provide information on disability & access issues and campaign for, and advise on improved access to the environment |
| Aspire2 Mobility | From scooters to active wheelchairs, riser chairs, beds, and everything in between; we’re committed to helping you find the best solution to live your life as freely and comfortably as possible. Although we’re based in the middle of the English country… |
| Assist Architects Ltd. | Offer services in architecture with emphasis in social housing and areas of greater need |
| Astley Hall | Accessible venue hire in Arisaig, Highland |
| Atlas Lifts & Services Ltd | Description of service: Supply, installation and maintenance of domestic and commercial stairlifts, ceiling track hoists, gantry systems, mobile hoists, passenger lifts, goods lifts, platform lifts, and disabled access lifts throughout the north east o… |
| Audio Description Association (Scotland) | Aims: To promote the inclusion of blind and partially sighted people at theatre, cinema, sport and cultural events by offering a commentary, which is received through a headset, and which does not obtrude on dialogue. Services provided: Campaigns to ra… |
| Autism Specific Consultancy Services Scotland Ltd | Autism Specific Consultancy Services Scotland Ltd (ASCS-S) offers a range of services that can be tailored to meet the specific needs of its customer. The Autism Consultant and Director of ASCS-S’ has over two decades of experience in the Health and So… |
| Back Up Trust | Aims: The Back-Up Trust inspires people to transform their lives after spinal cord injury. The charity challenges perceptions of disability and run services which grow confidence and independence and offer a supportive network. Services provided: Hold… |
| Badenoch and Strathspey Disability Access Panel | Ensure suitable access provision for disabled people in Badenoch |
