Agenda item

The Housing Services Manager presented the report to the Committee.

The Council had 4,940 housing properties.  The Welfare Adaptation Policy (the ‘Policy’) provided a framework for the provision of adaptations to the homes of tenants living in Council accommodation.

The Council had approved the Policy May 2022 and was due for renewal, with minor changes to definitions and clarifications made.

Minor adaptations were simple, cost effective solutions to assist a person to live independently (grab rails, small external handrails, etc.) and tended to be under £1,000 in costs.  In 2024/25, 42 minor adaptations had been undertaken.

Major adaptations were valued over £1,000 (replacing a bath with a level access shower or wet room, hard standing / driveways, stair lifts, etc.).  In 2024/25, 141 major adaptations had been undertaken.

Several sessions with various officers involved in the Welfare Adaptation process (incl. a representative from Derbyshire County Council) were held.  In addition, the Council had reviewed the Housing Ombudsman Good Practice Guidance issued in February 2025 (regarding disabled adaptions in social housing).

Several tenants who had been through the Welfare Adaptation Process (the ‘Process’) were also invited to form a working group to discuss their experiences and make suggestions for improvement to the Policy and Process.

While it had been intended to recruit a working group of tenants with a wide experience of the Process, only those who had received a good experience could be found.  It was noted the Ombudsman would look favourably on the Council seeking to involve tenants in the review.

The key changes within the Policy were;

·       Eligibility – the Council had added that the occupant must be using the property as their permanent or principal home for 12 months or more;

·       Where a stair lift was required in a block of flats this would only be considered following a feasibility and fire risk assessment;

·       Feasibility assessments would be undertaken when looking at the provision of hard standing for wheelchairs users or where this could provide a more economical solution to provide a hard standing that provided additional paths / ramping from the roadside;

·       Ramping for self-purchased wheelchairs or mobility scooters might not be considered unless assessed as a necessary requirement by an Occupational Therapist or other suitably qualified medical professional;

·       Where a level access shower was required in properties at first floor or above, this could be considered following a feasibility and / or accommodation needs assessment;

·       Should alternative suitable accommodation become available prior to work commencing, the Council could make this as an alternative offer to the adaption agreed;

·       The Council had removed reference to a £500 rent arrears threshold, rather stating where there were any arrears, and that the Council make contact with the applicant to ensure a payment plan was in place and being adhered to prior to works being carried out.

The Updated Policy was attached at Appendix 1.

To a question on how much a wet room adaptation could cost, the Housing Services Manager believed it to be around £5,000-£6,000, though the Repairs Team would be able to answer accurately.

To a question on the most expensive adaptation the Council could make, the Housing Services Manager informed it would be extensions of properties.  An example of a recent request was provided to the Committee – an extension would have cost £100,000. 

However, in this circumstance a Council owned 3-bedroomed new-build property (already fully adapted and which met all the tenant’s criteria) had become available within 1 mile of the tenant’s residence – this had been offered to the tenant, saving the Council from providing the extension.

Moved by Councillor Jeanne Raspin and resolved by Councillor Amanda Davis

RESOLVED that the Scrutiny Committee review and provide comments on the updated Welfare Adaptation Policy prior to final approval by Executive.