Today we are going to discuss a construction grant available to homeowners. This grant is commonly referred to as the disabled bathroom grant. The first thing you should know about this grant is that it isn’t called the Disabled Bathroom grant. Officially the grant is called the Housing Adaptation Grant for People with a Disability.
This grant is available to individuals who need to make changes to their home to make it more suitable for a person with a physical, intellectual or sensory disability.
These changes can include making a property more wheelchair accessible, the installation of chairlifts and adding extensions to make an area wider.
In most cases, however, this grant is used to customise bathrooms and toilets.
TYPES OF DISABLED BATHROOM CUSTOMISATIONS
For individuals with mobility issues, showering and using the bathroom’s facilities can be difficult and uncomfortable. Therefore a bathroom often has to be customised to accommodate the specifics of the individual’s condition.
This can include the installation of handrails and walk-in baths.
Toilets are often fitted with bars and emergency alarms, so an individual can call for help if they need assistance.
RULES THAT GOVERN THE ACCESS TO THE GRANT
The grant is available to people in:
- Owner Occupied Housing
- Homes that are purchased from a local authority under the Tenant Purchase Scheme
- Homes that are privately rented. The length of the tenancy can affect the likelihood of grant approval
- Homes provided under the: voluntary housing Capital Assistance and Rental Subsidy schemes
- Homes occupied by individuals living in communal residences
To qualify for the grant the individual must be able to prove they will be living in the property where the works have been commissioned.
A tenant living in rented accommodation, must all get written approval from their landlord.
Qualifying For the Grant
To qualify for the grant you must be willing to undergo a Means test. This test will access the total household income of the propety. This test will include the income of the individual applying for the grant along with their partner or spouse’s income. The income of any other adult living in the property will also be included in the means test.
The Housing Adaptation Grant for People with a Disability can help a person with a disability live a comfortable and independent life, inside their own home.
For more information, please visit our disabled bathrooms page or get in contact with our team today.