Source · Select Committees · Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee
Recommendation 8
8
Deferred
Paragraph: 36
Require local authorities to keep and publish accessibility registers for all social housing stock.
Recommendation
We are concerned that most local authorities do not keep a register of the accessibility of their own housing stock, despite some disabled people living in temporary accommodation for years while waiting for accessible social housing. The Government must require all local authorities to keep a register of accessibility of homes in their own housing stock and require local authorities to keep a detailed record of all accessible social housing within their local authority area. Local authorities should be encouraged to publish this information so that disabled people can access this information in appropriate accessible formats.
Government Response Summary
The government discusses the importance and funding of the Disabled Facilities Grant (DFG) and ongoing reforms, but does not commit to requiring local authorities to keep a register of accessible housing stock, which was the core recommendation.
Paragraph Reference:
36
Government Response
Deferred
HM Government
Deferred
25. The government recognises how important home adaptations are in enabling disabled people to live as independently as possible in a safe and suitable environment. DFG funding helps adapt around 55,000 homes annually, helping disabled people and their families to live independently and well in their own homes for longer, and reducing demand for health and social care support. 26. In 2018, an independent review concluded that key aspects were outdated and badly in need of reform. Several recommendations from the report were implemented, including through the 2022 publication of updated national DFG delivery guidance. This government is undertaking further reform of the DFG, as set out below, and will continue to consider the recommendations of the independent review as it does so. 27. Although the landscape has changed since the report was published, the government recognises that key challenges remain. 28. Additionally, in recent years the level of funding for the grant has not kept pace with inflation. This government is now taking action to ensure that the DFG grant is properly funded and fit for the future, so that more people can live well for longer in their own home. The government has: a. committed an additional £86 million funding for the DFG in 2024–25, on top of the £625 million paid to local authorities in May 2024. This brings total funding for 2024–25 to £711million. b. confirmed a further £711 million DFG funding for 2025–26. 29. Further details of action being taken on specific key recommendations are below. LUHC Select Committee Report conclusion: The £30,000 upper limit on individual DFG applications is sufficient to cover the cost of most DFG applications. However, the fact that the upper limit has not changed since 2008, despite recent rising construction costs, means the DFG does not meet the needs of some applicants whose adaptations cost more than £30,000. Consequently, a small number of disabled people who require more complex adaptations may struggle to afford to self-fund the home adaptations they need.