This information applies to England and Wales.
If you rent from a private landlord, you will need permission to make any changes to your home. This includes adaptations to make your home more accessible if you are disabled.
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If you are disabled under the Equality Act, you have the right to portable support aids or temporary adaptations when you are renting. These are called 'auxiliary aids'.
The law says that your landlord does not have to let you:
You can still ask for adaptations even if you are not entitled to them by law.
Definition of disability under the Equality Act 2010 (GOV.UK)
These are temporary adaptations or portable support aids. This is something that is not a physical or structural change to your home.
The Equality Act says that you have the right to an auxiliary aid if all the following apply:
Auxiliary aids could include:
Before you make any changes to your home, get permission from your landlord.
Without this, you could be breaking your tenancy agreement.
As a private tenant, you do not have a legal right to remove or alter physical features. But your landlord may allow adaptations that remove or change part of your home if:
Even if you do not have the legal right to an adaptation, you can still ask.
Your landlord may be more likely to agree if they know that they do not have to pay. For example, if you can get a Disabled Facilities Grant (DFG) from your local council.
The Equality Act states that any service provider must make reasonable adjustments so disabled people can use their services, if they are asked. This includes private landlords, housing associations and local councils.
It says that landlords must make reasonable adjustments, including:
Landlord responsibilities for improvements in your home (Shelter)
The process for getting adaptations will depend on your:
The first step is to contact your local council.
Find your local council (GOV.UK)
The council will usually ask you to get an assessment from an occupational therapist (OT).
When you have had an assessment, the OT will write a report recommending the best adaptations for you. This is evidence for the council and your landlord about the adaptations you need.
You can pay for a private OT assessment. It might be quicker, but it can be expensive.
Some local councils and private landlords only accept recommendations from a council OT assessment. Check with your local council and landlord.
If you decide to have a private OT assessment, your local Home Improvement Agency (HIA) might be able to recommend someone.
Home Improvement Agencies (Find my HIA)
Find a private occupational therapist (Royal College of Occupational Therapists)
Home adaptations and occupational therapist assessments
You can apply for funding from the local council.
Depending on your landlord, you might speak directly to them or through a letting agency.
You can ask them for permission:
It can be helpful to have the report from the OT assessment, so you know exactly what adaptations you need.
Ask in a letter or email. Keep copies of any communication between you and the landlord.
When you write to your landlord, it can help to say:
You can also send them the OT’s report with their recommendations.
Citizens Advice has example letters for asking for adaptations.
Asking for adaptations to help with your disability (Citizens Advice)
If your landlord refuses to let you make changes to the structure or physical features, you can:
If your landlord refuses to make adaptations, or does not respond to your request, you can challenge them.
Start by making an informal challenge to your landlord’s decision. This could be through a:
Ask your landlord to explain why they refused to allow adaptations. Explain again that you:
You can get free advice and support from:
You might also be able to get advice from your occupational therapist.
Keep copies of any emails or letters you send.
You can also:
It is good to get everything in writing. It can be helpful if you need to talk to the local council.
If you are unhappy with your landlord’s response, contact your local council. Ask to speak to the private renting team.
You do not have to tell your landlord that you are planning to report them to the council’s private renting team.
Depending on your local council, the team might contact your landlord. They will help you make your case about needing adaptations.
Find your local council (GOV.UK)
The law says that if you are classified as disabled under the Equality Act, you are entitled to reasonable adjustments. But there is no fixed definition of what is reasonable. It depends on what you need and how expensive or hard the adjustment would be for the landlord.
If your landlord does not give you permission to make adaptations, it could be discrimination.
You can get free advice on housing discrimination from:
It can be hard to prove disability discrimination if your landlord does not give you permission to make adaptations.
For example, if your landlord decides not to renew your tenancy after you ask for adaptations, this could be discrimination.
But it may be hard to prove that your landlord wants to evict you because you asked to adapt your home.
Disability discrimination in rented housing
Challenging an eviction with discrimination law (Citizens Advice)
If your landlord uses a letting agency, you might have to communicate through them.
If the letting agency does not respond to your request for adaptations, you can make a complaint. They must publish details of how to make a complaint on their website.
If you are unhappy with their response, you can use a redress scheme to resolve the dispute.
Letting agent redress schemes (Shelter)
If you have used a redress scheme but are still unhappy with your landlord’s response, you can get legal advice to make a formal complaint.
Some solicitors may offer free advice.
Check if you can get legal aid (GOV.UK)
Finding free or affordable legal help (Citizens Advice)
You may also be able to get legal support through your:
No win, no fee solicitors may also be an option.
But you may have to pay for legal advice.
The Law Society website has a tool where you can search for different types of lawyers near you.
You can also refine the results based on access to their building including whether they:
Find a solicitor on The Law Society website
You can still get information and support from:
If your landlord refuses adaptations, your local council can help you find somewhere new to live.
Applying for accessible council and housing association homes
Your local council may offer you a home if all the following apply:
This can take a long time. Contact your local council as soon as possible.
A housing advocate can give you support to communicate with your council, housing association or landlord.
This might be when you want to:
They can go with you to meetings to support you to express your views. They do not make decisions for you but can give you information about your options.
Advocates are:
You can also ask a family member or friend to be your advocate.
Being an advocate for a disabled friend or family member
You can find local advocacy services from:
Talk to people with similar experiences and get advice and support from our online community.
Last reviewed by Scope on: 03/06/2025
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