Recommendations & Conclusions
4 items
1
Conclusion
Seventh Report - Disabled people in the…
Acknowledged
Disabled people are not a homogeneous group with a single set of housing needs. Rather, Government policy must seek to address the many barriers which disabled individuals face, which vary widely. Too often too many disabled people are failed by current housing policy. We have been particularly pained to hear …
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Disabled people are not a homogeneous group with a single set of housing needs. Rather, Government policy must seek to address the many barriers which disabled individuals face, which vary widely. Too often too many disabled people are failed by current housing policy. We have been particularly pained to hear of the impact on disabled people’s dignity, health and wellbeing of living in unsuitable accommodation. It is intolerable that many disabled people are living in unsuitable accommodation for years without hope. It is essential that the Government, local authorities, and the housing sector work together to prioritise disability inclusion and address the barriers that disabled people are currently facing.
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Government response AI summary
The government acknowledges that disabled people should not face barriers to suitable accommodation and commits to working with local authorities and the housing sector to address key challenges, stating that ministers will ensure housing policy addresses these needs.
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Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
2
Recommendation
Seventh Report - Disabled people in the…
Acknowledged
We have found little evidence that the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities is fully recognising the housing needs of disabled people, let alone treating disabled people’s needs as a priority in housing policy. In particular, it is deeply concerning that the Government’s new Disability Action Plan fails to …
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We have found little evidence that the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities is fully recognising the housing needs of disabled people, let alone treating disabled people’s needs as a priority in housing policy. In particular, it is deeply concerning that the Government’s new Disability Action Plan fails to directly address housing at all, despite clear evidence of the knock-on effect of housing on all aspects of disabled people’s lives. Moreover, the only substantive reassurance that the Minister for Housing and Homelessness was able to provide us with was that she had “heard from lots of people on the ground” in her capacity as the Ministerial Disability Champion. We recommend that the Government should take action based on the concerns that the Minister has heard. (Paragraph 15) Increasing the supply of accessible homes
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Government response AI summary
The government acknowledges the challenges disabled people face regarding housing accessibility and states it intends to set out its policies on the accessibility of new homes in the near future, providing details about a necessary technical consultation at that time.
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Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
3
Conclusion
Seventh Report - Disabled people in the…
Acknowledged
We welcome the Government’s announcement that it intends to make the M4(2) accessibility standard mandatory for all new build homes. This amendment to building regulations is an important policy change which will greatly increase the availability of accessible homes for disabled people. However, we are deeply concerned that the Department …
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We welcome the Government’s announcement that it intends to make the M4(2) accessibility standard mandatory for all new build homes. This amendment to building regulations is an important policy change which will greatly increase the availability of accessible homes for disabled people. However, we are deeply concerned that the Department has made little progress towards implementing this policy in practice.
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Government response AI summary
The government states the revised National Planning Policy Framework (published December 2024) requires local authorities to assess housing needs for disabled people, and it will set out its policies on new home accessibility 'in due course'.
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Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
14
Recommendation
Seventh Report - Disabled people in the…
Acknowledged
Whilst we recognise the need for the DFG means test to be a well-evidenced process, the current DFG means test is unnecessarily complex and leads many applicants to drop out of the DFG process entirely. We are also concerned that the means test’s passporting provisions can result in unfair ‘cliff-edges’ …
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Whilst we recognise the need for the DFG means test to be a well-evidenced process, the current DFG means test is unnecessarily complex and leads many applicants to drop out of the DFG process entirely. We are also concerned that the means test’s passporting provisions can result in unfair ‘cliff-edges’ for applicants when they move into work. The Government should reform the means test to ensure it does not disproportionately penalise working disabled people, by introducing more gradual tapering of personal contributions for disabled people when they move into work.
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Government response AI summary
The government notes the recommendations, highlights local authorities' existing flexibility to address the issue, and states it will continue to keep different aspects of the DFG means test under consideration.
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Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government