Adapted properties: Government urges landlords to share their experiences
As part of an ongoing inquiry looking at housing for disabled people, the parliamentary body responsible for scrutinising the Government's housing policy is asking landlords to share their experiences in providing adapted homes. Campaigns and Public Affairs Executive, Samuel Leeson, explains more about the inquiry and how landlords can respond.
With an increasing number of disabled and elderly tenants choosing to stay in, or move into the private rented sector (PRS), the demand for accessible and adapted properties is now higher than ever before.
Demographic projections also indicate that an increasing number of elderly tenants will continue to remain in the sector over the next two decades, highlighting the need for the PRS to be prepared to address their specific needs.
To understand what can be done to ensure disabled people, including those in the PRS, can find accessible and adapted housing in England, the Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (LUHC) Committee launched an inquiry into the topic in July 2023.
The inquiry seeks to examine a myriad of issues concerning the provision of appropriate housing for individuals with disabilities. Of note, it intends to explore the ways in which the Government can extend support to disabled tenants within the PRS in England.
Interested stakeholders were invited to share their insights and case studies to enrich the Committee’s understanding of the issues the inquiry intends to address.
How to share your experiences
To support the written evidence submitted to inquiry last year, the LUHC Select Committee is now encouraging private landlords to share their individual experiences in adapting and letting properties tailored to individuals with disability needs in England.
It seeks landlords’ input on their experiences in adapting housing for disabled people and explores what more can be done to support disabled individuals in accessing suitable housing.
The survey also asks landlords to share their experiences with the Disabled Facilities Grant (DFG) process, a means-tested grant available to landlords or tenants to support adaptations in the PRS.
To support the NRLA’s written submission to the inquiry, we are encouraging landlords who either let adapted properties or have considered adapting properties to respond.
The survey can be accessed on the Committee’s website, with the deadline for submitting a response set for 5pm, 15 February, 2024.
Share your insights with us
Alongside encouraging our members to respond based on their own experiences, the NRLA will also be responding to the survey and would like to include as many examples and insights into the benefits and challenges of providing adapted properties as possible.
If you have adapted a property or have considered installing adaptations, please contact the NRLA’s Campaigns and Policy Team by 2 February, 2024 at the following email address: [email protected]
How did the NRLA respond to the inquiry?
The PRS is now accommodating more disabled and older people than ever before, and with that comes for a greater need for homes to be more accessible or adapted.
However, uptake of grant funding specifically allocated for adaptations remains notably low in the sector, with only 8% of DFG applications given to PRS households in England.
In our written submission to the LUHC Committee, we addressed these issues and outlined the actions needed from the Government and local councils to support landlords in providing suitable housing options for disabled renters. These include proposals to:
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Improve awareness and uptake of the DFG;
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Enhance data collection on adapted properties and develop incentives to boost willingness;
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Increase the overall supply of rented properties in the sector to improve choices for disabled renters;
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Utilise the proposed PRS Property Portal to identify adapted properties; and
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Implement a national standard for a long-leasing scheme in England to boost the supply of adapted properties.
To read more about these recommendations in our summary here. This outlines the key proposals we are urging the Government and local authorities to consider.
Our adaptations campaign
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Explore more details about our work around adaptations on our campaigns webpage here.
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If you're interested in delving deeper into adaptations and considering adapting your property, download the NRLA's adaptations guidance here.
