The Levelling Up, Housing and Communities Committee launches inquiry into accessible housing
An inquiry has been launched by the Levelling Up, Housing and Communities Committee that looks at what the UK Government can do to ensure disabled people have access to accessible and adaptable housing in England and challenges whether the Disabled Facilities Grant fully supports housing adaptations.
The inquiry, titled Disabled people in the housing sector, will examine the role of Government, local councils and developers in ensuring the delivery of suitable housing for disabled people and what the Government can do to support disabled tenants in the private rented sector in England.
The Committee will also be looking at the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) and whether it ensures housebuilding complies with the Equality Act 2010.
The inquiry intends to examine the progress made since the publication of the findings (in July 2022) of the Government’s consultation titled ‘Raising accessibility standards for new homes’.
Clive Betts, Chair of the Levelling Up, Housing and Communities Committee, said: “Many people with disabilities will be living in homes that are neither adapted nor accessible. This might apply to those seeking social housing because they or their immediate family members have a disability, or they might be wishing to buy, or rent privately, and cannot find housing that’s suitable for their disability-related needs.
“We want to examine what Government can do to ensure disabled residents have access to accessible and adaptable housing in England and how far the planning system is helping to deliver suitable homes. We’re also keen to explore the role of Government, local councils and developers in delivering suitable housing for people with disabilities and what the Government can do to support disabled tenants in the private rented sector in England.”
The Committee will also be looking at how far the Government can ensure it provides provision to support disabled residents who do not live in new build homes and whether the Disabled Facilities Grant supports housing adaptations.
The key questions for the inquiry are included in the full terms of reference, such as, what can the Government do to ensure disabled residents across England have access to accessible and adaptable housing?
Does the National Planning Policy Framework ensure the Equality Act 2010 is complied with when building housing, and what role should the Government, Local Authorities and developers have for ensuring the delivery of suitable housing for disabled people?
Additionally, Since the Government consultation ‘Raising accessibility standards for new homes’ (July 2022), what has been done to improve housing provisions for disabled residents in England? And has it been sufficient
How can the Government ensure it provides sufficient provisions to support disabled residents who do not live in new build homes? Also, the important question of, does the Disabled Facilities Grant fully support housing adaptations?
Finally, what can the Government do to support disabled tenants in the private rented sector?
The Committee welcomes written evidence on the terms of reference. The closing date for submissions is Thursday 21 September. Evidence sessions for this inquiry are likely to begin in late 2023.
Recent research by the Learning Disability and Autism (LDA) Housing Network has called for £304m of private and public funding each year, over the next 15 years, to deliver the increasing demand in supported housing for people with learning disabilities and autistic people.
