Source · Select Committees · Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee
Recommendation 12
12
Deferred
Paragraph: 49
Set out full response and implementation timeline for the 2018 DFG External Review.
Conclusion
The Government-commissioned External Review of the Disabled Facilities Grant (DFG) in 2018 made several appropriate and valuable recommendations on DFG funding, eligibility, and the delivery process, based on comprehensive evidence. It is therefore deeply disappointing that the Government has not published a response to the Review and has not acted upon its main findings, despite prolonged calls for it to do so. The Government, in response to this Report, must therefore set out: • its response to each of the External Review’s recommendations in full; • what action it has already taken to address each recommendation in the Review since it was published in 2018; and • a timeline for the future implementation of each of the DFG reforms in line with those External Review recommendations which the Government accepts.
Government Response Summary
The government states it continues to fund Foundations as a national body for DFGs and will work with them on guidance and accessible information, but does not provide the requested full response to the 2018 DFG External Review or a timeline for its recommendations.
Paragraph Reference:
49
Government Response
Deferred
HM Government
Deferred
34. This government continues to fund an organisation, currently Foundations, to act as a national body for DFGs and home improvement agencies. The current contract that commenced in October 2024 includes as a key component the provision of accessible information to the public, including disabled people as they navigate through the process of securing the adaptations they need to live safely and independently. 35. The department will continue to work closely with Foundations to help ensure a quality service for disabled and neurodivergent people, including around DFG guidance and self-assessment tools. LUHC Select Committee Report conclusion: It is unacceptable that any landlords should refuse disabled tenants permission for reasonable accessibility adaptations, especially where these adaptations have been approved as part of a DFG application.