3 minutes reading time
(635 words)
A Right Delayed – The Endless Wait for Accessible Homes
Across the country, thousands of disabled residents are stuck waiting. Waiting for councils to approve adaptations. Waiting for repairs that never seem to come. Waiting for homes that should already be accessible but are not. What is striking is that this is not about luxuries or upgrades. It is about basic rights to live safely and independently in a home that meets people’s needs.
The legal framework exists. Councils have obligations under the Equality Act and housing legislation to make reasonable adjustments. Yet in practice, too many people find themselves caught in a system that grinds slowly, if at all. It is not unusual for residents to spend years on waiting lists for something as essential as a ramp, a stairlift, or a properly adapted bathroom. For many, those delays are not just inconvenient. They are life-limiting.
The stories are familiar. Families chasing the council for months about urgent adaptations, only to be told the funding has run dry. Tenants facing repeated assessments that seem to restart the process each time. Some councils take the line that adaptations are not “reasonable” within budget, while others delay to the point where the works no longer fit the resident’s changing health needs. It becomes a vicious circle where the council’s inaction makes life harder, and the resident’s situation becomes more desperate.
And it is not only council tenants who face these obstacles. Disabled people in private rental properties are often caught in similar struggles with their landlords. Landlords may resist carrying out works or delay approvals, leaving tenants stuck in unsuitable homes. Spencer Collins, who will be joining us this week, has faced exactly these issues in his private rental property. His experience highlights how the barriers extend beyond local authorities and into the wider rental market.
It also shines a light on how resources are distributed. Disabled Facilities Grants were meant to be the answer, yet demand far outweighs supply. For councils under financial pressure, adaptations can fall low on the list. The result is an accessibility lottery. Some areas manage to process applications relatively quickly, while others leave residents in limbo. The postcode you live in can determine whether you get dignity and independence, or frustration and dependence.
There is also a deeper cultural problem. Too often, disabled residents are treated as if they should be grateful for whatever is provided, rather than as people entitled to a proper standard of housing. That imbalance of power makes it hard to challenge poor service. It takes time, energy, and knowledge to push back, and those are resources many people in this position do not have.
On this week’s Property Matters podcast, hosted by Gareth Wax and joined by myself, Hamish McLay, we will be opening up this conversation. We will also be joined by Spencer Collins and Kirsty Hall, both of whom have been battling with housing providers over basic adaptations. Their experiences highlight how uneven the system can be, and the toll it takes on individuals and families.
We will be looking at how councils and landlords are handling their responsibilities, and where the system is breaking down. We will ask what it means for those left waiting, and how change might be achieved, whether through funding, policy, or simply the will to treat housing as a right rather than a favour.
This is not an abstract issue. It is about real people, in real homes, facing real barriers. Unless things change, “a right delayed” will remain, in effect, “a right denied.”
Never miss an episode – subscribe to our YouTube channel to watch live or catch up: https://www.youtube.com/@SpillingTheProper-Tea
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For podcast/media info:This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
The legal framework exists. Councils have obligations under the Equality Act and housing legislation to make reasonable adjustments. Yet in practice, too many people find themselves caught in a system that grinds slowly, if at all. It is not unusual for residents to spend years on waiting lists for something as essential as a ramp, a stairlift, or a properly adapted bathroom. For many, those delays are not just inconvenient. They are life-limiting.
The stories are familiar. Families chasing the council for months about urgent adaptations, only to be told the funding has run dry. Tenants facing repeated assessments that seem to restart the process each time. Some councils take the line that adaptations are not “reasonable” within budget, while others delay to the point where the works no longer fit the resident’s changing health needs. It becomes a vicious circle where the council’s inaction makes life harder, and the resident’s situation becomes more desperate.
And it is not only council tenants who face these obstacles. Disabled people in private rental properties are often caught in similar struggles with their landlords. Landlords may resist carrying out works or delay approvals, leaving tenants stuck in unsuitable homes. Spencer Collins, who will be joining us this week, has faced exactly these issues in his private rental property. His experience highlights how the barriers extend beyond local authorities and into the wider rental market.
It also shines a light on how resources are distributed. Disabled Facilities Grants were meant to be the answer, yet demand far outweighs supply. For councils under financial pressure, adaptations can fall low on the list. The result is an accessibility lottery. Some areas manage to process applications relatively quickly, while others leave residents in limbo. The postcode you live in can determine whether you get dignity and independence, or frustration and dependence.
There is also a deeper cultural problem. Too often, disabled residents are treated as if they should be grateful for whatever is provided, rather than as people entitled to a proper standard of housing. That imbalance of power makes it hard to challenge poor service. It takes time, energy, and knowledge to push back, and those are resources many people in this position do not have.
On this week’s Property Matters podcast, hosted by Gareth Wax and joined by myself, Hamish McLay, we will be opening up this conversation. We will also be joined by Spencer Collins and Kirsty Hall, both of whom have been battling with housing providers over basic adaptations. Their experiences highlight how uneven the system can be, and the toll it takes on individuals and families.
We will be looking at how councils and landlords are handling their responsibilities, and where the system is breaking down. We will ask what it means for those left waiting, and how change might be achieved, whether through funding, policy, or simply the will to treat housing as a right rather than a favour.
This is not an abstract issue. It is about real people, in real homes, facing real barriers. Unless things change, “a right delayed” will remain, in effect, “a right denied.”
Never miss an episode – subscribe to our YouTube channel to watch live or catch up: https://www.youtube.com/@SpillingTheProper-Tea
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For podcast/media info:
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