Aids and adaptations

If you would like to request a home assessment by an occupational therapist, please telephone social services at 0300 123 6720 or online at www.gov.uk/apply-needs-assessment-social-services. They will take all the necessary details from you and prioritise your assessment depending on your circumstances.

If major adaptations are required following the occupational therapist’s assessment, your occupational therapist will submit their recommendations via a Disabled Facilities Grant referral to your local council. The disabled facilities grant will assist with funding the works. Speak with your local council direct for more information about a Disabled Facilities Grant and how to apply.

Timescales for adaptations do depend on the nature of the appropriate local council’s Disabled Facilities Grant waiting lists. All adaptations, whether minor or major, are recorded in date order.

You might decide to organise and pay for your own adaptations. You must ask us for permission and wait until you have written approval before making any adaptations or improvements to your home.

Minor aids and adaptations are relatively small items such as:

• grab rails
• additional bannister rail
• key safe
• half step
• lever taps.

Please note, we do not provide accessories such as window handle extenders, key covers such as a keywing, drop down kitchen storage, or temporary ramps, works to facilitate mobility scooters.

We will fund minor aids and adaptations with an estimated cost of less than £1,000, subject to budget availability.

Major adaptations include:

• ramp
• wet room
• level-access shower
• shower over bath
• structural alterations
• adding/converting/removing property fixtures
• or a lowered kitchen.

These usually cost over £1,000 and often require alterations to the property's structure. An occupational therapist will need to undertake a home assessment to determine whether or not a major adaptation is required.

You or someone on your behalf can request an aid or adaptation by contacting us. If your request is successful, we will keep you informed of timescales for the completion of the works.

If your property is unsuitable for an adaptation, then we will discuss with you what alternatives are available.

Each application will be reviewed on a case by case basis. Our policy states:

Rent arrears: In all cases (with the exception of  RWP supported living schemes) tenants in rent arrears on the waiting list for major adaptation work will be asked to agree to a payment plan to pay off the arrears.  Payments under this agreement must usually commence and be maintained for a reasonable period of time before the adaptation is carried out. As a guide:

• where the arrears are less than £500, the customer will be expected to maintain a payment plan for at least three months.
• Where the arrears are greater than £500, the customer will be expected to maintain a payment plan for at least six months.

Adaptations will not normally be paid for by the Group in any property where:

• The occupancy is short term in nature

This translates to no Major adaptations will be carried out within the first 12 months of a new tenancy (starter tenancy).

Please note, we do not remove disabled adaptations, for instance, converting a wet room back into a bathroom. We also do not carry out landscaping, dropped kerbs, works to facilitate mobility scooters, adaptations in communal areas or on a shared path.

Equipment may be provided by social services where required following a needs assessment.

Any equipment prescribed by social services is not arranged, funded or owned by Progress Housing.

We do however work closely with your local council to assess whether permission can be granted for the installation of any equipment that requires structural work or is a permanent addition to your home.

Equipment includes aids and adaptations such as:

• Walking frames and sticks
• Wheelchairs
• Perching stools
• Toilet frames
• Specialist baths and toilets
• Chair risers
• Toilet frames
• Bath boards
• Specialist flooring
• Wall padding
• Hoists
• Through-floor lifts
• Stair lifts

You can request as assessment for equipment by contacting social services directly.