Your Rights
As a person with a disability you have a right to appropriate housing, yet many newly disabled individuals find themselves in Interim Accommodation, such as residential care because their options are limited. It is important that you know your rights and has access to the relevant information to enable you to make an informed choice about your own future and that you have access to adequate housing. Sometimes the professional appointed to your case doesn’t know about all of the options available to you, so it is important that you do and that you are aware of the legislation concerning housing and home adaptations.
The government website www.disability.gov.uk clearly states in the Interim Government Response to the Report of the Disability Rights, that:
- Recommendation 8.9
Housing Authorities should ensure that the needs of disabled households are covered in the housing strategy produced for addressing housing need in their area. They should take account of links with the planning process to ensure that accessible housing is placed in areas where, for example, there is good access to public transport and local services such as shops.Annual Housing Investment Programme Guidance already encourages local authorities to consider the housing needs of disabled people when putting together their housing strategies. Planning Policy Guidance advises local authorities that housing for special groups, including people with disabilities, should be constructed in accessible locations.
- Recommendation 8.10
Local authorities and Registered Social Landlords (RSLs) should introduce performance indicators locally under ‘Best Value’ to show the quality of the adaptation service they provide to disabled people.The statutory and other guidance to local authorities on the Best Value regime underlines the importance of consultation and encourages authorities to develop and use local performance indicators. The Best Value in Housing Framework document, published on 19 January 2000, specifically encourages housing authorities to consider local performance indicators on areas such as action to help disabled people and to show the quality of the adaptation service.
The Housing Corporation has produced guidance for RSLs on adaptation services for disabled people. This recommends local performance indicators and targets for use by RSLs which provide such services.
- Recommendation 8.11
Councils and estate agents should be encouraged to keep up-to-date records of all known dwellings that are potentially suitable for disabled people, in order to compile cross sector databases to match needs.The Code of Guidance on Homelessness and Allocations (a revised version of which will be published later this year) will encourage local authorities to establish databases of properties specially designed or adapted for disabled people. The National Disabled Persons Housing Service’s A Perfect Match – A Good Practice Guide to Disability Housing Registers gives good practice examples of how estate agents can provide a comprehensive estate agent service which promotes accessible housing.
- Recommendation 8.12
In discharging their statutory obligations under ‘Best Value’, local authorities should consult the beneficiaries of adaptations and take account of their views.Consultation is fundamental to ‘Best Value’. Section 3 of the Local Government Act 1999 requires authorities to consult a wide range of local and other interests as to the way in which they fulfil their best value duties. The statutory and other guidance on ‘Best Value’ underlines the importance of authorities seeking out the views of all potential service users, especially those who have been traditionally under-represented. It will be for local authorities to decide whom they consult and in what way, but they will be expected to develop appropriate techniques for different services and for communicating with groups that are typically hard to reach.
To find out more please go to: http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/DisabledPeople/HomeAndHousingOptions/YourHome/DG_4016448
