Adaptations for your home

Home > Services > Housing > Aids and Adaptations

If you have difficulty in getting in, out or around your home, you should consider asking an occupational therapist from the social work department to carry out an assessment of your property. Adaptations include alterations to bathrooms, bedrooms, stairs, doorways, paths, and steps. To contact the occupational therapy service, please refer to the menu of related content on the right-hand side.

Applying for adaptations
Anyone in your household who has difficulty in getting in, out or around your home can apply for help with adaptations. If you have a disabled child under 16 years old in the property, the person with parental responsibility for the child should make the application.

If your home is specially adapted to meet your needs, you may be entitled to a property value banding reduction on your Council Tax. Please use the link in the related content menu on the right-hand side for more information.

Temporary adaptations
If the occupational therapist recommends a temporary adaptation to your home, the cost of this may be met from the Council's social work budget. If you are a tenant of the council, a registered social landlord or a private rented landlord, you'll often need your landlord's permission before work can begin, and this may cause a delay. Once permission is given, estimates are requested and, resources permitting, an order is placed.

Permanent adaptations
If the occupational therapist recommends a permanent adaptation of the home of a council tenant or housing association tenant, the details are passed to the landlord. If you live in owner-occupied or private rented housing, the details are sent to the Housing and Property Services department's owner services team.

• Council and housing association tenants - If the occupational therapist recommends a permanent adaptation to your home, and your landlord has adequate funds available to carry out the work, your landlord will order and supervise the work. They will also check the completed adaptation to make sure that the workmanship is good.
• Private housing residents - If you live in either an owner-occupied or a privately rented house, you may be eligible for an improvement grant from the Council to help you meet the costs of the work. Your occupational therapist will help you to apply for a grant. If you live in a privately rented house, you would probably need to get your landlord's agreement before starting any works, but your landlord cannot refuse to give you permission without good reason.

Further information on improvement grants or private tenants' right to adapt let property can be found in the menu of related content on the right-hand side of this page, or from the private housing section of our website.

You can also look at the Living Made Easy website which provides impartial advice and information for older and disabled people, carers and care professionals.

Back to top