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Tenants with disabilities struggle to find suitable homes. SWLA are supporting a new initiative to encourage landlords to consider adapting their properties.
NRLA released a report ‘Adapting the Private Rented Sector’ which exposes a chronic lack of accessible properties for disabled tenants. Four in five wheelchair users in the Private Rented Sector are living in a home that fails to meet their needs, and 91% have experienced barriers to renting.
According to recent research conducted by the Social Market Foundation, the number of private rented sector (PRS) households headed by a person 65 years or older is set to double by 2046. With this in mind the we believe that now is the time for local authorities and landlords to work together to address this ongoing issue. Taking this important step will help expand the number of adapted homes for UK disabled and older renters, ensuring an inclusive PRS which works for all.
Key to addressing these issues is clearer communication from local authorities to landlords concerning the availability of the Disabled Facilities Grant (DFG), available through local authorities. NRLA research suggests that 79% of landlords had no knowledge of the grants. After finding out more, 68% of landlords were more willing to adapt their properties.
This is a chance for local governments to take a lead on an increasingly important issue by taking practical action now, before the UK’s adaptation challenges become even more acute.
New guidance has been released ‘Adaptations: Good Practice Guidance’ setting out how private landlords can consider requests for adaptations to make their properties more inclusive and accessible.
