Can I get my house adapted?

Disabled Facilities Grants

If you (or someone living with you) are disabled, you may qualify for a Disabled Facilities Grant. These grants are available to help make the homes of disabled people more suitable for them to live in, and to help them manage more independently.

Who Can Apply?

If you own your own home, or if you rent it from a private landlord or housing association, you can apply for a Disabled Facilities Grant. Private landlords can also apply on behalf of their tenants.

Anyone who does apply will have to sign a certificate confirming that for the next five years (the grant condition period), the disabled person will continue to live in that same property.

Who Qualifies For a Grant?

Anyone with a disability who lives or is moving into the district can apply for a Disabled Facilities Grant. The parents or guardian of a disabled person can also apply on their behalf.

However, to make sure that help goes to the people in greatest need, the amount of grant you receive is decided after your own financial resources have been taken into account.

This test of financial resources is the way it is calculated how much, if anything, you should pay towards the proposed adaptations.

What Types of Work are Covered?

A Disabled Facilities Grant can be used for any work which :-

• makes it easier for you to get in and out of your home
• makes access to your living room, bedroom, kitchen or bathroom easier
• provides suitable bathroom, sleeping and kitchen facilities that meet your needs
• adapts heating and lighting controls for ease of use
• provides you with adequate heating
• helps you care for a disabled person living with you
• Makes your home safer.

How Much Grant is Available?

The amount of grant you get is decided on an individual basis. You will receive the difference between the total cost of the adaptations the grant covers, and the contribution (if anything) that you will be making.

The maximum grant available is £30,000.

How to Apply

First of all you need to be referred to the Community Occupational Therapists by either your Doctor or Social Services. The Occupational Therapists will, after talking with you, decide which adaptations if any to recommend for grant assistance.

They will pass these details to Health and Strategic Housing Services, and we will then start the grant process. The first step will be to decide whether or not you qualify for a grant.

Note: if you do qualify for a grant, you may wish to see more detailed information about the grant procedure. This is available in a separate leaflet called Disabled Facilities Grants: The Process, which shows you the various steps involved.

For More Information

If you would like more information or you have any queries about Disabled Facilities Grants please contact:

Alison Biggam :
Enquiries (01524) 586804
Brian Oldroyd :
Technical Officer (01524) 586814
boldroyd@lancaster.gov.uk

John Helme : 
Housing Enabling Officer (01524) 586812

Health and Strategic Housing Services
56/58 Euston Road
Morecambe
LA4 5DG