• Getting between rooms: If your child is or will be using a walking frame, manual chair or powerchair:
  • Are doors and hallways wide enough?
  • Are there any steps between rooms?
  • Which way do doors open?
  • Are the handles easy to use?
• Getting around rooms:
  • Is there space in each room to:
    • Turn a buggy,
    • Go past with a walking frame,
    • Turn in a Wizzybug or wheelchair.
  •  How could space be increased if needed?
    • Moving furniture around
    • Changing how you use each room
    • Could you add a room or rooms on?
• Flooring:
  • Are there rugs that could be a trip hazard?
  • If your child uses a walking aid or a wheelchair, is the flooring suitable?
• Moving between floors – if you have an upstairs:​​​​​​​
  • Does your child sleep and use the bathroom upstairs? How do they get there now?
  • As they grow and get heavier:
    • Would a downstairs bedroom and accessible wetroom (bathroom) be possible?
    • Would there be space to fit a through floor lift? If so, is the upstairs wheelchair accessible (e.g. is the landing wide enough? Is the bathroom big enough to adapt into a suitable wet room?)
• In the bathroom:
  • Can your child get in and out of the bath or shower safely? What help do they need for this?
  • Can they get on and off the toilet safely? What help do they need for this?
  • As your child gets heavier  what might they need and what are the options? e.g.
    • Is there room for a walk-in or roll-in shower ?
    • Is the ceiling structurally sound enough to take a ceiling hoist?
• In the bedroom:
  • Can your child get in and out of bed safely?
  • Is there room for any equipment they use or might use?
    • e.g. would there be enough space for a specialist profiling bed and turning space for a wheelchair?
  • How easy and ‘private’ is it to get between the bedroom and the bathroom?
• Storage and equipment:
  • Is there enough space for your child’s equipment – both when it is being used and when it is being stored or charged?
  • Can your child access their toys or computer or other activities as independently as possible?
  • Are there enough electrical points in the right places?

• Can your child get safely in and out of the doors?
• Are the doors wide enough for a buggy, walking frame, manual chair or powerchair?
• Is it level through the actual doors or is there a ‘step’ that could be a trip hazard or prevent wheelchair access?
• Can they open the door(s) themselves?
• Are there steps?
  • If there are steps and your child can walk, are they shallow enough to manage?
  • As a temporary measure, portable ramps may overcome difficult access. They can also be used for houses that open straight on to the pavement.
• Do there need to be any rails or grab rails at the doorways or along any paths or steps?
• If steps are low and the overall slope is gentle, could they be replaced by a sloping path?
• If it is impossible to build a ramp or slope of the correct gradient, could a step lift be installed? This is a platform with safety rails and a folding front ramp which rises hydraulically.
• If the approach to your house is steep, is there space for a short-rise lift?

• Are the paths firm, slip resistant and reasonably smooth?
• If your child uses a powerchair, is there, or could there be, a firm patio which would be better to use than a grass area?
• Are there any gates your child would need to manage? If so, for independent access these should not be spring-loaded. However, you also need to think about safety or locks for all children in your home.
• Can you make the garden a place your child can enjoy more? Do you need help and ideas to do this?

"I would also suggest that you contact your local Rotary, Round Table or Lions Club as they may be willing to fund or part contribute towards your garden. Details of your local groups can be found from your local library or citizen’s Advice Bureau."

• If your child is likely to need to use a powerchair and you think you will have a Wheelchair Accessible Vehicle (WAV) (find out more in the this section), how closely can you park to your home? Will your child be able to get in and out of a vehicle safely?
• If you are hoping to have off street parking, is there enough room?

There needs to be enough space for the vehicle, the tail lift, and your child to manoeuvre their powerchair in and out between the vehicle and your home. This usually means allowing at least 1,200mm to the side and rear of a standard car parking space.

• Is there a dropped kerb for your vehicle to go out onto the road? If not, you may be able to apply for one:
  • England and Wales >
  • Northern Ireland >
  • Scotland >
• If you have the space, what about a car port? Especially useful for rainy days.
• If your only option is on-street parking – would it be  possible near you? If so, you may be able to apply for a disabled parking space:

Contact your county council or national body:

• • England >
  • Wales >
  • Northern Ireland >
  • Scotland >

With your community OT’s agreement you may decide that your current home is not going to work for you and your child. One reason may be that you want to move may be to be nearer family.

If you move area and you receive direct payments for your child’s care, be aware that you may receive a different amount after you move. Hourly rates for providing services may differ from council to council. In some cases, you may find that you have to pay for a service you used to receive for free, or vice versa.

If you are a tenant looking for a more accessible local authority or Housing Association property, you will need your community OT’s support. If you plan to move to a different area and need a local authority property which has been adapted, families already living in an area have priority.

In some parts of England and Wales, councils have an Accessible Housing Register so it is worth asking about this when you contact them.

If you decide you want to try to adapt your current home, there are professionals who will guide you. You will need the help and support of the Local Authority community occupational therapy service that specialises in this. They are part of Social Services. You can refer yourself, or request that your occupational therapist (OT) or physio refers you.

If you are a private, local authority or Housing Association tenant, you must get your landlord’s agreement to carry out adaptations. Landlords must not withhold consent unreasonably, but they may be able to evict you if you make alterations without permission. When deciding whether to agree to changes, landlords can take into account factors such as:

• the length of your tenancy
• how much work is needed
• if permission is needed from anyone else, such as the person who owns the building.

You may decide that it is better to try to move. Your community OT should be able to guide you on how and when it is best to approach your landlord.

Others who may be helpful are your:

• social worker
• medical team occupational therapist
• one of the organisations listed in the Resources section below.

It can be useful to talk with other individuals and families who have already been through the adaptations process (see tab below for some people’s reflections). Ask us at SMA UK if we can put you in touch.

The adaptation process can be very long and does vary depending on your local authority. As a rough guide it involves these stages:

1. Referral to local authority social services community OT

2. Meeting with community OT to assess your needs and discuss possible options

3. Social services  or community OT liaises with architect or housing surveyor on plans

4. Decisions made about adaptations and equipment

5. Social services or community OT look at plans with family

6. Plans adjusted

7. All relevant permissions sought

8. Builders quote for the work and a builder is chosen

9. Meeting held with the family, builder, OT, surveyor and any other interested parties (for example Housing Association officer) before work starts

10. Work starts

11. Social services or community OT and housing surveyor check completed work to sign it off and enable Disabled Facilities Grant (DFG) funds to be paid (see Costs and Funding section below)

12. Arrangements made to demonstrate use of any specialist equipment.

Disabled Facilities Grants (DFGs) are the key potential source of financial help with the cost of home adaptations in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. This grant is potentially available for tenants (as long as you have permission from the landlord) or homeowners. There are more details below.

If you live in Scotland potential funding is covered by Housing Grants

What Can DFGs Cover?

Before it will approve a DFG, the council needs to agree that the work is:

• necessary and appropriate – to meet your child’s needs
• reasonable and can be done – depending on the age and condition of the property

Applications can be made for adaptations such as:

• widening doors
• installing ramps
• improving heating
• environmental controls (for example, being able to control doors, home appliances, heating and lighting, using a remote control or switch)
• installing lifts
• building accessible rooms
• maintenance costs – if you have electrical equipment, for example a lift, you can include help to pay for an extended warranty in your DFG application.

VAT Costs

Some alterations qualify for zero-rating VAT – the builder should not charge you VAT. This includes:

• ramps
• widening doorways and passages
• extending or adapting bathrooms, shower rooms, wash rooms and toilets
• installing a lift.

There may be other items connected with your adaptations that can be zero-rated. For more information see:

• GOV.UK Financial Help for Disabled People – VAT Relief
• GOV.UK Work for Disabled People – VAT for Builders

or phone HMRC on 0300 200 3700.

Who Can Apply?

As a parent, you can apply if your child lives with you and you intend to live in the property during the grant period (currently 5 years). You also need to either:

• be a tenant in the property (and have the landlord’s permission), or
• own or part-own the property

You can also apply for a grant if you are a landlord and have a disabled tenant.

If you are not sure who is best to apply, talk to your community OT.

How Much Could We Get?

Applications for a DFG on behalf of a disabled child (under the age of 18) are not means-tested.  Parents’ income and savings will not be taken into account.

The maximum amount of money available varies across the countries. Also, the total amount of money available for DFGs varies from area to area as do other criteria and rules. Your local council should publish information about their DFG system and how they allocate funds:

• GOV.UK How much you will get

Check what is possible with your community OT or local council, including any questions such as:

• How long should it take for a decision to be made?
• Once a decision has been made, how soon do I have to start making alterations?
• What happens if the adaptations cost more than the grant available?
• What if we want to move one day:
  • Would we have to pay any money back? In all circumstances?
  • How long would we have to wait before we could apply for another grant?
• Are any fees taken out of the DFG e.g. fees from architects or surveyors?
• What happens if my child’s needs change in the future?

How Do We Apply?

Once your community OT has made their assessment, you can ask a Home Improvement Agency to help you with your DFG application. This is then forwarded to the Local Authority for approval.

If you are unhappy about your DFG decision, you can appeal through your local council. If you are still unhappy, you can complain to the local Government ombudsman.

For more information, see:

• DFGs in England and Wales
• DFGs in Northern Ireland

Moving Costs

Getting help to cover this will depend on the sort of housing you want and your circumstances. This includes:

• if you work
• what benefits you are claiming and / or you are entitled to
• if you have savings
• if you are sharing costs with a partner etc.

Some local councils can offer assistance towards deposits for privately rented accommodation.

Maintenance Costs

It is essential that you know who will be responsible for maintaining your adaptations once they have been completed. This will vary depending on the type of adaptation, the type of property you have, and how the work was funded. It is also important that you follow-up on guarantees to make sure they have been registered and are valid.

• Generally, if you have had a DFG you will be fully responsible for maintenance, repair and, if necessary, removal.
• If an item needs replacing at any time, another application can be made for a DFG – talk to your community OT.
• Some housing associations agree to maintain some adaptations in their properties. You will need to check this with your housing association.
• In council properties, the housing department is usually responsible for maintenance, repair and removal.
• If an adaptation has been provided on loan by your local authority rather than through a DFG, your local authority will be responsible for maintenance and repair.
• If your landlord made the DFG application, they will be responsible for maintenance and repair.