Source · Select Committees · Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee
Seventh Report - Disabled people in the housing sector
Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee
HC 63
Published 24 May 2024
Recommendations
11
Accepted
Provide new burdens funding to local authorities for additional accessibility requirements and duties.
Recommendation
The Government should provide funding, in line with the new burdens doctrine, to local authorities to ensure that they can carry out these additional requirements and duties to the best of their ability. (Paragraph 43) Adapting homes: the Disabled Facilities …
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Government Response Summary
The government acknowledges the DFG allocation formula is outdated and commits to reviewing how DFG funding is allocated to local authorities, proposing to consult on a new formula during 2025 with the aim to adopt a new approach as soon as possible.
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
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16
Accepted
Para 64
Establish a new DFG distribution formula based on local need, population, income, and regional building costs.
Recommendation
We welcome the Government’s decision to increase overall DFG funding allocations to local authorities in 2023/24 and 2024/25. However, the current DFG distribution formula is unfair and does not distribute funds according to local need. Oxford City Council sets a …
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Government Response Summary
The government acknowledges the DFG distribution formula is outdated, commits to reviewing how funding is allocated based on local need, and plans to consult on a new formula during 2025 with the aim of adopting it as soon as possible.
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
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17
Accepted
Para 68
Expand Foundations' remit to improve DFG guidance, tools, and applicant support, including neurodivergent needs.
Recommendation
The current provision of local authority support for disabled people seeking to adapt their homes is inconsistent across England. This can result in additional barriers for disabled people as they navigate the DFG process. The Government should expand Foundations’ remit …
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Government Response Summary
The government states that its current contract with Foundations, which commenced in October 2024, already includes providing accessible information to the public, and the department will continue to work with Foundations to ensure quality guidance and self-assessment tools for disabled and neurodivergent people.
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
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18
Accepted
Require the Landlord Ombudsman to consider complaints regarding landlord refusal of accessibility adaptations.
Recommendation
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. The Government must continue its work with landlord associations and housing associations …
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Government Response Summary
The government will explore further changes, highlight how the Renters' Rights Bill will empower tenants and introduce an Ombudsman to consider complaints about refusal of adaptations, and ensure the Ombudsman's service and communications meet the needs of disabled tenants. They also point to existing guidance from the NRLA and in government 'How to' guides.
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
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