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Assessments

Usually, an occupational therapist will assess what adaptations would best meet your needs. If they agree that you need adaptations to your home, then you may be eligible for a Disabled Facilities Grant.

Disabled Facilities Grants

Local councils have to give Disabled Facilities Grants to eligible applicants to make houses suitable for disabled people. Depending on your financial circumstances, you may be expected to pay some of the costs.

Disabled Facilities Grants are available to owners and tenants in both private and social housing up to a to a limit of £30,000.

• Disabled Facilities Grants - introduction

Extra help that may be available

Sometimes, local councils provide assistance such as low cost loans or grants to help renovate, repair or adapt your home.

They may also provide other sorts of assistance. For example, helping someone move to more suitable accommodation if this would provide a similar benefit to improving or adapting the existing accommodation.

For more information, contact the Environmental Health or Housing Department of your local council.

• Local councils

VAT relief

Disabled people do not have to pay VAT on the cost of some building work involved in adaptations to their homes. If an adaptation qualifies for VAT relief, the work preparing for the adaptation and the work to tidy up afterwards is also free from VAT.

Council Tax reduction

If you adapt your home so that a disabled person can live there you may be eligible for a one-band reduction on your Council Tax.

• Council Tax reduction for disabled people

Supporting People Programme

Supporting People provides help to vulnerable people to live as independently as possible in the community. This might be in their own homes or supported housing.

Getting work done

Home Improvement Agencies

You may be able to get help from a Home Improvement Agency with arranging for adaptation work to be carried out. They are not-for-profit organisations, which are often managed locally by councils or housing associations. They can:

Foundations is the national co-ordinating body for Home Improvement Agencies in England. For Scotland, it is Care & Repair Forum Scotland and for Wales it is Care & Repair Cymru. Go to the appropriate website to find details of agencies in your area.

• Go to the Foundations website Opens new window

• Care & Repair Forum Scotland website Opens new window

• Care & Repair Cymru website Opens new window

Planning permission and building regulations

It is important to get planning permission and take into account any building regulations before you begin major building work. To find out how to do this, visit your local council's website.

• Find out about planning permission locally Opens new window

• Find out about building regulations locally Opens new window

Choosing tradespeople and builders

If you decide to hire a tradesperson or builder yourself, it is important to choose someone who operates legally and is qualified for the job. You can find information about choosing a builder in the home and community section of Directgov.

• Choosing a good builder (home and community section)

Useful contacts

• Independent living and equipment contacts