Disabled people in the housing sector

Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee Closed Inquiry
Opened: 24 Jul 2023 Closed: 28 May 2024 Parliament page
This inquiry will examine the role of Government, local councils and developers in ensuring the delivery of suitable housing for disabled people and what the Government can do to support disabled tenants in the private rented sector in England. The Committee will also be looking at the National Planning Policy … Read more
11 Recommendations
7 Conclusions
1 Report
2 Oral sessions
2 Letters
2 Events
Activity timeline 8 events
6 Mar
2025
Report published
24 May
2024
Report published
16 Apr
2024
Correspondence
18 Mar
2024
Oral evidence
18 Mar
2024
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · The Thatcher Room, Portcullis House
5 Feb
2024
Oral evidence
5 Feb
2024
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · Room 15, Palace of Westminster
8 Nov
2023
Correspondence
Oral evidence sessions 2 sessions
18 Mar 2024
View on parliament.uk
Oral Evidence
Felicity Buchan · Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities Philip White · Building Safety Regulator William Burgon · Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
5 Feb 2024
View on parliament.uk
Oral Evidence
Adrian Dobson · Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) Christina McGill · HoME coalition (Housing Made for Everyone) Mikey Erhardt · Disability Rights UK Mr Timothy Douglas · Propertymark Ms Jacquel Runnalls · Royal College of Occupational Therapist’s (RCOT) Specialist Section in Housing Sam Stafford · Home Builders Federation Victor Chamberlain · Local Government Association (LGA)
Title HC No. Published Items Response
Seventh Report - Disabled people in the housing sector HC 63 24 May 2024 18 Responded
Recommendations & Conclusions
4 results
Clear
11 Recommendation Accepted
Seventh Report - Disabled people i…
Provide new burdens funding to local authorities for additional accessibility requirements and duties.
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 … Read more
Government Response
The government acknowledges the DFG allocation formula is outdated and commits to reviewing how DFG funding is allocated to local authorities, proposing to consult on a new formula during 2025 with the aim to adopt a new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 Recommendation Accepted
Seventh Report - Disabled people i…
Establish a new DFG distribution formula based on local need, population, income, and regional building costs.
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 … Read more
Government Response
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 Recommendation Accepted
Seventh Report - Disabled people i…
Expand Foundations' remit to improve DFG guidance, tools, and applicant support, including neurodivergent needs.
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 … Read more
Government Response
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 Recommendation Accepted
Seventh Report - Disabled people i…
Require the Landlord Ombudsman to consider complaints regarding landlord refusal of accessibility adaptations.
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 … Read more
Government Response
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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Government Response AI assessment · 18 of 11 classified
Accepted 4
Acknowledged 4
Deferred 9
Rejected 1
Total 11 recs + 7 conclusions
Correspondence 2 letters
16 Apr 2024 To committee Letter from the Minister for Housing and Homelessness dated 4 April 2024 following up evidence given before the Committee on 18 March
Parliament page
8 Nov 2023 To committee Letter from the Minister of State for Housing and Planning concerning disabled people in the housing sector, dated 28 September 2023
Parliament page