Many UK homes aren’t designed to accommodate accessibility. From steep staircases to narrow hallways and doorways, those who live in homes that don’t suit their mobility needs can find everyday life stressful and difficult.
Home adaptations play a pivotal role in allowing someone to remain in their home by making it more comfortable, functional and safe. Changes big and small can help to enhance independence and improve quality of life.
However, home modifications aren’t something everyone has the means to do because they can require significant financial investment.
This blog will guide you through the funding options and processes available to help pay for major home adaptations.
What Are Major Home Adaptations?
When we talk about major home adaptations we’re referring to significant changes made to a property that aim to improve accessibility for people with disabilities. The changes often require professional expertise to execute and tend to be tailored to specific needs.
Major home adaptations usually cost over £500 and projects typically take longer to complete than minor adaptations. Some examples of major home adaptations include:
- Widening doorways. Expert know-how is needed to remove parts of existing walls and ensure the structural integrity of the wall remains intact.
- Installing stairlifts. Setting a stairlift in place involves a professional assessment, fitting the track, attaching the chair and connecting it to a power source.
- Modifying bathrooms to include level-access showers. This involves making significant structural changes to the space like lowering or levelling the floor.
- Building extensions. As well as compliance with local building regulations and planning permissions, extension erection involves new foundations, walls, and roofing.
- Refitting kitchens. This project often involves major changes to plumbing, electrical systems, and cabinetry, requiring specialist skills and professional contractors.
What Are Minor Adaptations?
Minor adaptations, costing under £500 to implement, can be installed or changed fairly quickly and generally don’t require as much professional input. The changes improve the accessibility of a home without the need for significant structural reworking.
Here are some examples of minor adaptations:
- Grab bars and handrails. These provide support for people with reduced mobility.
- Accessible taps. Lever taps or motion sensor taps are easier to manage for many individuals with disabilities.
- Shower seats. Portable shower chairs or stools offer safer bathing without the need for permanent installation.
Funding Options For Major Home Adaptations
Major home adaptations can be expensive, and that can cause families and carers a lot of stress in an often already tumultuous and emotional time. There is help out there for securing funding for major home adaptations. Let’s run through the most common sources.
Disabled Facilities Grant (DFG)
The Disabled Facilities Grant enables individuals with disabilities to make necessary adaptations to their homes. This might include major adaptations like widening doorways or building extensions.
The grant typically covers a portion of the project costs, and those in receipt can receive up to £30k in England, £25k in Northern Ireland and £36k in Wales. For applicants over 19 years of age, DFG is a means-tested program and each applicant’s financial situation is assessed to work out how much funding they are entitled to.
Eligibility
To be an eligible applicant for a DFG you must be an adult or a child with a permanent and substantial disability or health condition that significantly impacts your ability to live independently. Whether you are a homeowner or a tenant, you must live in the property where you want the adaptations to be made.
Application Process
The first step is to request a DFG application form through your local council. They should also be able to offer you guidance for filling it out. You can see what you may be entitled to by using Adapt My Home, an online self-assessment tool for checking your eligibility for a Disabled Facilities Grant.
Before a DFG request can be actioned, an occupational therapist will typically perform a needs assessment to evaluate the individual’s needs and determine the required adaptations. A property survey may also be necessary to ensure that any changes can be made safely and in line with local regulations.
After the assessment, applicants will need to obtain quotes from appropriate contractors for the suggested adaptations. A financial assessment will be undertaken to check the applicant’s financial set-up, assess their eligibility and find out how much they are entitled to.
Grant Decision
Your local council must respond to a DFG application within six months from the date of application. If it is not awarded and you disagree with the decision, you can submit an appeal.
If approved, the grant will be issued, and the necessary adaptations can be completed. If the DFG does not cover the full cost of your adaptations, you can consider additional funding for major home adaptations from other sources such as charitable organisations or local disability services.
Other Government Schemes & Benefits
When DFG doesn’t cover funding for major home adaptations, other government schemes and benefits can help financially – whether that’s supporting your adaptation projects or enhancing your income.
Help For Home Improvements
The Great British Insulation Scheme may help you with funding for major home adaptations. It is a system designed to lower household energy costs by providing eligible applicants for insulation improvements. This can help you to spend less on your bills, making it easier to afford other adaptations.
You can find out more about the eligibility criteria and the application process here.
Financial Support Benefits
You or your loved one may be entitled to income-boosting financial support that can help with funding for major home adaptations. These don’t directly fund adaptations but increase your overall household income.
Personal Independence Payment, or PIP is designed to help people with the costs associated with long-term health conditions and disabilities. It is available for individuals aged 16 to 64 and could be used towards adaptations and living expenses. Eligible people are assessed against two components, daily living and mobility.
Click here for more information and to check your eligibility.
Disability Living Allowance is similar to PIP but for under 16s. It is assessed similarly and can be used for various expenses, like costs related to a young person’s care and support, as well as put towards funding for major home adaptations.
Follow this link for more about DLA.
Attendance Allowance is another government scheme that you can use as part of your funding for major home adaptations. It is aimed at individuals over 65 who require help with personal care due to a severe disability. It is not means-tested, so your income and savings do not affect eligibility.
You can find more information about Attendance Allowance here.
Charitable Organisations
Many charities offer grants to help individuals and families deal with the financial side of living with disabilities and long-term health issues. Here are some examples.
Family Fund
This organisation awards a wide range of grants to families raising disabled and seriously ill children and young adults. The grants are designed for low-income families in the UK and can be used to fund a variety of needs, from household items to family holidays and beyond.
More eligibility information can be found here.
Family Action
Applications can be made through a referral from a professional or agency for a Family Action welfare grant. Eligible families and individuals on low incomes can use their grant money towards funding for major home adaptations as well as for things like clothing, appliances and furniture. Here’s the website.
RNIB (Royal National Institute of Blind People)
People with significant sight loss who are in financial need may apply for grants from the RNIB. These grants can help cover the costs of special equipment or services that improve quality of life and enhance independence, like technology and mobility aids.
Information about RNIB grants can be found here.
Independence At Home
Independence At Home is yet another charity that can help with funding for major home adaptations. They offer financial assistance for equipment for mobility aids and special beds, as well as a ton of other items that can help people manage their disabilities and health conditions and maintain their independence.
To apply or learn more, click visit Independence At Home.
Carter’s Trust
Applicants applying for grants and support through Carter’s Trust must meet their criteria surrounding financial need and disability status. Carter’s Trust helps individuals and families afford essential items and services that improve the safety and quality of their lives.
Read more about what Carter’s Trust have to offer here.
Hospital Saturday Fund
Funds are available through the Hospital Saturday Fund grants for medical expenses like treatments and therapies as well as home modifications that meet health care needs. The grants are available to people in need of health-related financial support.
Information about the Hospital Saturday Fund can be found on their website here.
Utilising grant money from the charities listed above can help with funding for major home adaptations.
Alternative Funding
The following ways of upping your finances can also help you sort out funding for major home adaptations. However, both of these methods come with potential financial risks, and seeking independent financial advice is highly recommended.
Equity Release
Equity release allows homeowners to effectively turn some of the value tied up in their property into cash. This can then be used to fund home adaptations.
Equity release reduces the value of your property, with implications such as reduced inheritance for family members among other factors. Always ensure you understand the big picture and the risks involved before considering this option.
Loans
Some organisations, such as Lendology, offer specialist loans designed to help cover the expense of home adaptations. These loans are often more flexible when it comes to repayment terms and eligibility criteria.
(Remember, unlike grants, loans must be repaid with interest; assess whether the repayments will fit within your budget with the help of an expert before deciding to go down this route).
Navigate Your Funding Options With Confidence
Major home adaptations are expensive, but there’s help available. Take time to find out what you’re entitled to and you’ll be well on your way to achieving the adapted home you need.
The John Ford Group are adaptation specialists that work speedily, safely, with minimal disruption and within budget. We’re always happy to discuss what we have to offer our clients – get in touch to find out how we can help.