Getting home adaptations

You can apply to your local council for home adaptations if you:

• rent your home from a social landlord (housing association or local council)
• rent your home from a private landlord
• own your home

Depending on your council, you might need to speak to the social care department or the housing department.

 Ask your local council what the process is. You will usually need to:

• tell your council you need adaptations
• get an occupational therapist (OT) assessment to find out what adaptations will be best for you
• get a report from the OT with their recommendations – they will also send it to the housing provider
• get funding from the council
• ask for temporary accommodation during the adaptations, if you need it

Getting an assessment

If you rent from a private landlord or own your home, you might also need to:

• ask for permission from your landlord or freeholder
• get quotes from builders and an architect
• arrange a visit from an architect
• apply for funding

You can also get adaptations through the NHS.

You might get urgent adaptations or equipment through the NHS if:

• you are in hospital and need changes to your home to make it safe and accessible before you can be discharged
• you are unwell and would need to go into hospital without adaptations to your home

Your healthcare team will arrange these adaptations.

These will be minor adaptations like grab rails or temporary ramps. Some community NHS services can make recommendations for small non-urgent adaptations, but larger adaptations tend to go through your local council.

Your care team will apply for adaptations for you. They might arrange an assessment at your home. 

The council will usually tell you to get an assessment from an occupational therapist (OT). You can get an assessment through the council. There might be a waiting list.

You might also be able to get an assessment through:

• your NHS care team
• paying for a private OT

If you or your child already have an OT, they will be able to tell you if they are able to carry out this kind of assessment.

Home adaptations and occupational therapist assessments

The OT will visit you at home. They will ask questions to get to know you and understand what you need.

The OT will make recommendations for what will help you live in your home. This could include adaptations or equipment.

They will write a report and send you a copy. They will also send it to your:

• local council if you are a council tenant
• housing association if you are a housing association tenant
• landlord if you rent from a private landlord

If you know what adaptations you need or the adaptations are urgent, some housing providers will make minor adaptations without an assessment.

These might be things like:

• grab rails
• special taps or door handles
• bath boards

It can help to get an assessment to find out:

• any additional adaptations that will help
• the right place and height for some adaptations, like grab rails

If you get an OT assessment, they will ask about your preferences and the preferences of any other people you live with. They will make recommendations for adaptations based on:

• your current needs
• how your needs might change in the future
• your home
• what would be most cost-effective

They will consider any adaptations that will help you to live in your home. But they will recommend trying the most cost-effective adaptation first.

Major adaptations include things like:

• widening door frames to make it easier to move from room to room if you are a wheelchair user
• adding a stairlift
• changing a bathroom to a wet room to make it easier to shower

Minor adaptations include things like:

• fitting rails or bannisters to help you get up steps to the front door
• fitting rails to help you get on and off the toilet

The OT might also recommend equipment.

How to get equipment and assistive technology

If home adaptations are prohibited in your tenancy agreement, seek advice from your local Citizens Advice to find out your rights.

Sometimes an OT might recommend moving home if adaptations cannot make the home suitable.

An OT can only make recommendations on what would meet a person’s needs. An OT would never insist someone moves against their will or force them to do so.

If you disagree with your OT’s report, you can challenge it. Contact your local council to find out how.

You can get support from:

• Citizens Advice
• your local Shelter office
• an independent advocate

If you are unhappy with the council’s response, you can complain to the local government and social care ombudsman.

Local government and social care ombudsman (LGO)

You could get a private OT assessment for a second opinion. This can be expensive. There is no guarantee that the private report will help support your challenge.

If you are a council or housing association tenant, your housing provider must carry out adaptations based on the OT’s report.

If you are a private tenant, you will need your landlord’s permission to make any changes to your home's physical features. For example, adding a ramp or widening a door.

If you are a homeowner of a leasehold property, you might need permission from the freeholder. Check your contract for this information.

You can ask for permission when:

• you decide to ask for an assessment
• or when you have an assessment report and you know what aids and adaptations you need

We have more information on:

• your right to adaptations
• how to talk to your landlord about adaptations
• your landlord’s responsibilities
• how to challenge your landlord’s decision

Landlords, disabled tenants and adaptations

Depending on the type of support you need, you could look at temporary aids and adaptations. You can take these with you if you move. They might be things like:

• tap turners or doorknob turners
• temporary grab handles
• a bath board or seat

This can be helpful if your landlord or housing provider will not agree to the adaptations you need.

Ask your council if you need to get quotes from builders. Some councils and housing associations will do this for you. Let them know if you would prefer to do this yourself.

If you need to do it yourself, you can get help from your local Home Improvement Agency (HIA). They will help you find trusted local tradespeople and get quotes.

Home Improvement Agencies (Find my HIA)

If you need adaptations to your home, you can get funding from your local council.

If the cost of the adaptations is less than £1,000, your housing provider should cover it.

If the cost of the adaptations is more than £1,000, ask your housing provider to apply for funding from the council.

Adaptations that cost less than £1,000

If the cost of your adaptations is less than £1,000, your housing provider should pay for them. Ask your OT or housing officer how it works in your area.

Disabled Facilities Grant (DFG)

If the cost of your adaptations is more than £1,000, you can get a Disabled Facilities Grant (DFG).

The local council must award a DFG if you are eligible. It is means-tested for adults. This means you might have to pay some money depending on your household income and savings.

It is not means-tested for adaptations for children.

The grant could cover the cost of adapting your home:

• up to £30,000 in England
• up to £36,000 in Wales

Applying for a DFG

If you are housing association or council tenant, your housing provider should apply for a DFG for you. In some areas you might have to apply yourself.

If you are a private tenant or own your home, you might have to apply for a DFG yourself. Your local Home Improvement Agency can help you apply.

Home Improvement Agencies (Find my HIA)

Our page on disability grants for home adaptations has more information on:

• how to apply for a DFG
• evidence you need to submit for a DFG
• how to appeal a DFG decision
• other ways to pay for home adaptations

Disability grants for home adaptations

You do not need to pay VAT for adaptations that make your home more accessible to you.

VAT relief on certain building work (GOV.UK)

Make sure that builders do not charge VAT for these adaptations. They will apply for the VAT exemption. You do not need to supply any evidence.

You can complain to your council or housing association if you think they are:

• not meeting your needs
• treating you unfairly
• ignoring you
• discriminating against you

Contact your council to ask how to make a complaint.

Find your local council (GOV.UK)

If you are unhappy with the council’s response, you can complain to the local government and social care ombudsman.

Local government and social care ombudsman (LGO)

Get free housing advice and support

If you have a problem with housing, you can get free support and advice from your local:

• Shelter
• Citizens Advice

If you get major adaptations, you might need to move out of your home while the work is being done.

We have more information on:

• your rights to temporary accommodation
• financial support to pay for temporary accommodation

Temporary accommodation during home adaptations

Some home adaptations might affect where you can park. For example, if you usually park in a garage but your garage is being turned into a wet room. Or if you park in a driveway but you need a ramp which will take up space in the driveway.

Contact your local council to ask for a disabled parking space. Search on the website for ‘disabled parking space’ or ‘disabled parking bay’.

Find your local council (GOV.UK)

You can ask for reasonable adjustments at any time. People who are defined as 'disabled' under the Equality Act have the right to reasonable adjustments.

Definition of disability under Equality Act 2010 (GOV.UK)

For example, you can ask for information in writing saying:

• who will be attending on which day and what they will do
• what time they will arrive and leave
• if your water or electricity supply will need to be turned off

You will need to:

• say what your condition is and how it affects you
• be clear on what you need

If they do not make reasonable adjustments, you can complain.

Failure to make reasonable adjustments and making complaints

If your application is approved, the council will send you a letter. They must respond to your application within 6 months by law.

They will pay the money directly to your housing provider. Your housing provider will then pay the builders who do the work.

The housing provider will arrange for the building work to start. Ask them when the work will take place and how long it will last.

If you own your home, the council might pay you directly and then you can pay the builders. You can get support from your local Home Improvement Agency.

Home Improvement Agencies (Find my HIA)

Depending on what work is done, there may be some disruptions to your life at home.