Help with home adaptations

Home adaptations are changes you can make to your home to help you live comfortably, safely, and independently. They can make everyday activities like getting dressed, cooking, washing, or moving around your home easier and safer.
The Council are committed to ensuring tenants with a disability, mobility needs, or health related challenges can live safely, independently and comfortable in your homes. We do this to help the continuation and improvement of your health and well-being to ensure that all tenants have the opportunity to live in a way that best meets your needs.

Types of home adaption

• Minor Adaptation, such as grab rails, hand rails and lever taps. These are not means tested.
• Major Adaptation, are more significant changes, like a level access shower, edits to your kitchen, or access to rooms. 

What adaptations work will be considered?    

In council owned or managed properties, adaptation works will be considered in line with relevant legislation, council policy, and available funding.
Disabled Facilities Grants (DFGs) are provided under the Housing Grants, Construction and Regeneration Act 1996 to support necessary and appropriate adaptations that enable a disabled person to live safely and independently within their home. Any proposed works must be supported by a recommendation from the Occupational Therapy (OT) service and be deemed reasonable and practicable, taking into account the property type and the tenant’s needs.

Adaptations that may be considered include, but are not limited to:

• Level access showers or bathroom adaptations
• Ramps or step free access
• Stairlifts or through floor lifts (subject to feasibility)
• Widening of internal doorways
• Handrails and grab rails
• Adapted kitchen layouts and accessible fittings

All works required will be assessed on a case- by-case basis comparatively with our legal responsibilities and evidenced by clinical need.

Eligibility

You are eligible to receive aids and adaptation work if:

• You live in an SDC home
• You do not have notice of seeking possession
• You have been assessed by an OT and are in need of an adaptation
• Your home has been assessed by an SDC officer and has been reported that it is possible to adapt.
• You are not on the Home Seeker register

Disabilities facilities grant

A ‘means test’ is a financial assessment linked to the Disabled Facilities Grant (DFG). This will be carried out to determine whether you are financially eligible for grant funding.

How to contact an Occupational Therapist

Please call Gloucester Occupational Health on 01452 426868 or visit their website Contact us | Gloucestershire County Council.

Our occupational therapist can be contacted via housing.adaptations@stroud.gov.uk for any updates on adaptation work being carried out within your home.

Restrictions

If it is not necessary and appropriate in line with current Building Regulations to carry out adaptation works, in our opinion, we will refuse your application based on architectural and structural characteristics, practicality of adapting the property ,conservation considerations and the impact of other members within the household.