Housing options for disabled people

Renting a home from your local council or housing association is usually cheaper than renting from a private landlord.

You could get financial support to help cover your rent through:

• the housing element of Universal Credit
• Housing Benefit

These types of homes are also called social housing. There is a shortage of social housing. Some people are on the waiting list for years without getting a property.

Accessible social housing

Councils and housing associations have a range of housing options. Some have things like step-free access and adapted wet rooms. Accessible homes are rare so you might have to wait longer until one is available.

If you have access needs, you will need an assessment from an occupational therapist (OT). If you already have an OT, they might be able to make recommendations, but you usually need to get an assessment from an OT who works for the council. Contact your local council to ask for an assessment.

Find your local council (GOV.UK)

The occupational therapist will visit you and find out how you use your home and what you need help with. They might recommend new equipment, adaptations to the home or moving to a new home.

If they think you need a new home, they will say what kind of home will meet your needs.

They will write a report and send it to the council.

Applying for accessible council and housing association homes

Assessments for accessible housing

Evidence you will need for accessible social housing

To be eligible for social housing, you need to:

• show you have a ‘right to reside’ for housing
• have a local connection to the area
• be on a low income and not have a large amount of savings

Councils have different rules about income and savings. Contact your local council to find out how to apply for social housing in your area.

Find your local council (GOV.UK)

Applying for accessible council and housing association homes

To apply for council or social housing, you need to fill in a housing application form.

You usually need to provide:

• ID, such as a passport
• your National Insurance number
• proof of your current address

The council or housing association may ask for references from previous landlords.

If you are applying for accessible housing, the council will also want to find out:

• how your current housing affects your condition and
• whether it would improve if you lived somewhere more accessible

They will ask you to send evidence of how your current home does not meet your needs. They may call this supporting documents. It can be a letter from a professional, such as your occupational therapist, GP or social worker. 

They might also ask to see your prescriptions.

Assessments for accessible housing

Bidding for properties 

How you find a property depends on your area.

Usually, you bid for a property you are interested in. This is also called choice-based lettings.

You can start bidding for properties when the council has:

• written to say that you are on the housing register and
• has put you in a band

If you need to move because your house no longer meets your needs due to your condition, you will be in a high priority band. This is sometimes called ‘moving on medical grounds’.

Check that your band reflects your situation. If you think you have been put in the wrong band, contact your council. You can get support from an advocate.

Council housing banding and bidding for homes

Extra bedrooms 

There are rules about the number of bedrooms your home can have.

The rules apply if you are under State Pension age and receive either:

• Housing Benefit or
• the housing element of Universal Credit

State Pension age (GOV.UK)

If you live in social housing and have more bedrooms than you can claim for, the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) will reduce your benefits. This is sometimes called the ‘bedroom tax’. The DWP calls it having a ‘spare bedroom’.

Contact the DWP to ask them about an extra bedroom. If they agree that you need an extra bedroom, they will not reduce your benefits. This could be if you have:

• a carer who does not live with you but sometimes stays overnight
• disabled children who need their own room

Bedroom tax and housing benefits

Housing swaps

If you already rent from a council or housing association and want to move, you could look for a housing swap. This is sometimes called a tenancy exchange or mutual exchange.

Swaps can be quicker than asking your council or housing association to help you find a more suitable home.

You can list your home on a website, including:

• HomeSwapper
• House Exchange

You can look for homes in your area or in another local council area.

If you find a home you think might be suitable, you can contact the current tenant to arrange a viewing.

Find out why the current tenants want to move. For example, there could be problems with the condition of the home, or antisocial behaviour in the area.

If you find a home to swap, you must get permission from both:

• your council or housing association and
• the other person’s council or housing association

Tenancy exchanges or mutual exchanges (Shelter)

You might have more choice and be able to move more quickly if you rent from a private landlord. But it is often more expensive than renting from a council or housing association.

Affording to rent 

The main costs of renting are:

• monthly rent payments 
• a deposit

They may also ask you to pay rent in advance when you move in.

They cannot ask for more than 5 weeks rent as a deposit.

Paying a tenancy deposit (Shelter)

Paying rent 

You could get financial support to help cover your rent through:

• the housing element of Universal Credit
• Housing Benefit 

Local Housing Allowance is the amount of benefits you can get to cover rent in your area. It is based on:

• your local rent prices
• how many bedrooms you qualify for
• your age

Local Housing Allowance if you rent privately (Shelter)

Local Housing Allowance bedroom calculator (Direct Gov)

If your rent is more than the Local Housing Allowance, your benefits will not cover all of it. You will have to pay the extra amount. You can apply for Discretionary Housing Payment if you cannot pay the extra amount.

Discretionary housing payment 

It is unlawful for landlords to refuse tenants because they are disabled or receive benefits. If you think you are being discriminated against, you can get support.

Disability discrimination in rented housing

If you cannot afford a deposit or rent

There is financial help available to pay for:

• monthly rent
• a deposit
• rent in advance

How to find privately rented homes 

You can search online for properties to rent on websites like:

• Rightmove
• Zoopla
• OnTheMarket

You can also use an estate agency.

Applying for private renting

When you find a property that meets your needs, you can let the estate agent or landlord know you are interested.

They will want to check that you have enough money to afford the rent. They usually do a credit check. They might ask to see documents, such as bank statements and benefits letters.

How to rent from a private landlord or letting agent (Shelter)

Landlords will also check that you have a ‘right to rent’. You have a right to rent if you have a right to live in the UK. They might ask to see your passport or ‘share code’ to see your immigration status.

Right to rent immigration checks (Shelter)

If you have a guarantor, you might have to fill in extra forms with their details.

If you are thinking of buying a home, think about how much you can afford. The  biggest costs to think about when buying a home are:

• a deposit
• monthly mortgage repayments to the mortgage lender

There are various ways to buy a home depending on your budget, including:

• with a mortgage
• through a shared ownership scheme
• through a government scheme such as Right to Buy

Mortgages and benefits

Get independent advice

If you need a mortgage, you will need to get a Mortgage Agreement in Principle before you buy a house. This is to check that you will be able to pay a deposit and monthly mortgage repayments.

It is a good idea to contact an independent mortgage adviser or broker. They will help you search the market to find a mortgage that:

• you can afford
• suits your needs

Find a local independent mortgage adviser from:

• Unbiased
• Personal Finance Society

Most mortgage advisers give advice for free. They charge a fee if you choose to take a mortgage they have found for you.

Mortgage advice: should you use a mortgage adviser? (MoneyHelper)

Shared ownership schemes

This is a way to buy a home if you cannot afford to pay:

• the whole of a deposit and 
• monthly mortgage payments

Shared ownership means you buy a share of the property and then pay rent to a landlord for the share they own. It is also called part-buy. It is a government-backed scheme.

Shared ownership scheme (GOV.UK)

You will have the option to buy a larger share of the property later.

You can apply for shared ownership if you receive benefits or if you do not.

Shared ownership and disability benefits 

The Home Ownership for People with Long-Term Disabilities (HOLD) scheme is available in England only.

Home Ownership for People with Long-Term Disabilities (GOV.UK)

You must be 18 or over and receive any of these disability benefits:

• Personal Independence Payment
• Attendance Allowance
• Disability Living Allowance care component at the middle or high rate

Your household income must be:

• £80,000 or less before tax if you live outside London
• £90,000 or less before tax if you live in London

There are other eligibility criteria.

It can be very difficult to apply for the HOLD scheme. Many mortgage lenders and estate agents do not know about it. This means they might not be able to help you apply. A local benefits adviser might be able to help you.

Other ways to buy a home

We have more information on other ways to buy a home including:

• Right to Buy
• First Homes Scheme
• Rent to Buy
• Help to Build

These all have different eligibility criteria.

Other ways to buy a home

Finding an accessible home to buy

Some accessible homes for sale are listed on the Accessible Property Register

But not all accessible homes are on the Accessible Property Register. 

There are websites that list homes for sale from estate agents, including:

• Rightmove
• Zoopla
• OnTheMarket

Online-only property sites let private sellers advertise homes without using an estate agent:

• Purplebricks
• Yopa

You can use website search tools to look for homes that meet your needs. For example, you can search by:

• area
• price
• type of property, such as ground-floor flat or bungalow
• number of bedrooms

You can also see floor plans and videos of properties online. These can give you an idea of how much space there would be for equipment and furniture and to get around.

Floor plans are not always accurate. It is a good idea to arrange a viewing so you can measure rooms and doorways yourself.

Get support when you view a home

Estate agents can help you find a home to rent or buy. They are sometimes called letting agents. You can call or email them or go into their office.

Let them know your access needs so they know which properties are suitable for you.

They can send you information about suitable properties. They will also arrange viewings for properties you are interested in. We have information on how to communicate your access needs to estate agents so that they do not recommend unsuitable properties. 

Buying a home (Shelter)

If you need more support at home, moving into residential care could be an option. There are various types of residential care:

• care homes
• supported living
• Shared Lives scheme
• Homeshare scheme

We have more information on:

• deciding what is best for you
• choosing a care home

Moving into residential care

Applying for residential care

If you want to move into a care home or supported living accommodation, you will need a social care needs assessment from your local council.

Getting a social care needs assessment 

They will consider what is best for you based on:

• your needs
• your budget
• the cost of your support

The process depends on how your local council works. You might need to share supporting documents from professionals like a doctor or occupational therapist. It can take a long time. 

Paying for residential care

The council will also look at your income and savings to decide if you need to pay for all or part of your care. They count some benefits as income.

You might need to show documents about your finances, such as bank statements and benefits letters.

Financial assessments for social care

You can move into any kind of home if you receive benefits. But it can be harder to get a mortgage or rent from a private landlord if you receive benefits.

Changing where you live might affect your benefits. Use a free online benefits calculator to:

• find out what you are entitled to
• see how changes would affect your benefits

Moving home and your benefits

If you need free benefits advice or support in person:

Find an adviser (Advicelocal)

Find a local benefits adviser (Turn2us)

Check the online listing to see if a home meets your needs and preferences.

You can ask the estate agent too. But arrange a viewing to check for yourself. You can ask for more than one viewing to give you time to take measurements and think about what you need.

Get support when you view a home

Accessing the home

Think about how you would be able to get in and out of the home. For example, find out if the home has:

• steps
• a ramp
• a lift
• grab rails

If there is a lift, find out what happens if the lift breaks down or there is a fire.

Depending on the type of home, you could ask:

• your council or housing association landlord
• the private landlord or homeowner 
• the estate agent

Moving around the home

Depending on your needs, check if there are:

• stairs inside
• steps between rooms
• grab rails in the bathroom

If you need a ceiling hoist or stairlift, you can ask to add one.

If the home is listed online, you can sometimes find floor plans. Floor plans are not always accurate. It is a good idea to arrange a viewing and take your own measurements of walls and doorways. You can ask someone to help you with this.

Get support when you view a home

Think about how you could use things in the home, for example if you can:

• reach kitchen cupboards
• reach appliances like the oven, fridge and washing machine
• reach light switches
• transfer on and off the toilet
• use a shower or bath

You may be able to get equipment or adaptions to help you do these things.

Furniture and equipment

Some homes are furnished (have furniture in them) when you view them. And some are unfurnished (have no furniture in them).

Ask the landlord or estate agent if any furniture you see will be left by the previous occupants. Or if they will take everything away with them. Ask them to confirm this in writing. 

You can also take measurements of any furniture already there to see if there would be room for your own things.

You can also take measurements of your equipment or furniture to see if they would fit. Check if there would be enough room for you to move around the furniture.

Traffic, noise and light

Environmental factors like traffic, noise and light can have a big impact on how you feel in your home.

At a viewing, you can check if there are any factors that would be difficult for you to live with.

You can also ask the estate agent or neighbours about these things, but they might not have enough information to reassure you.

If you can, visit the home at different times of the day to see how these factors change.

Condition of the home

At a viewing, check for things like:

• damp
• mould
• broken floorboards
• if the lights work
• damage to windows, walls or floors

You can ask someone to help you with this.

Get support when you view a home

If you are buying a home, it is important to get a survey. This is when a professional checks if:

• the home is worth the asking price
• there is any damage that will mean you have to spend money on repairs

House surveys – the different types and costs (Which?)

Energy appliances and costs

An EPC or Energy Performance Certificate rates the energy efficiency of a home:

• from A, with the lowest running costs
• to G, with the highest running costs

It can depend on things like if there is:

• insulation
• central heating
• a boiler
• double glazing

Find an energy certificate (GOV.UK)

Home Bills Healthcheck: Postcode Checker (MoneySuperMarket)

You can also check how much you must pay in Council Tax. If you are on a low income or receive benefits, you can apply for a reduction.

Check your Council Tax band (GOV.UK)

Apply for Council Tax Reduction (GOV.UK)

Getting to and from the home 

Ask the estate agent if there is a garage or car park or if you can park on the street.

If you need a disabled person’s parking bay, contact your local council.

Find your local council (GOV.UK)

You can look for the nearest bus stops and train stations on websites or apps like:

• Open Street Map
• Google Maps

Plan journeys between the home and places you often go to. Think about how long it would take and if you would need assistance. Local bus services often have journey planner tools on their websites or apps.

You can also use Street View on Google Maps to look around the home to see check things like the size and quality of pavements.

Access to services 

Find out what is in the local area. For example:

• shops
• schools
• train station
• bus station
• park

If you move home, you might need to change things like your:

• GP
• dentist
• school 
• college
• social care
• hospital

Ask your current service provider if they cover the area the new home is in or if you will have to change.

Find services near you (NHS)

Social care when you move 

You can ask someone to come with you when you view a home.

If you are viewing a council or housing association home, you can ask your occupational therapist (OT) to come with you. They can help you think about whether the home is suitable for you. And they can make suggestions about equipment or adaptations that could help.

Or you can ask someone else to come with you, for example:

• a friend or relative
• a personal assistant
• a housing advocate

You can also ask a builder to come with you if you think you will need adaptations. They can advise on what changes will be possible.

Find a trusted tradesperson

If there is a shortage of housing, you might feel under pressure to take a home quickly when one becomes available, even if it is not suitable for you.

It can help to think about which things are essential for you. And which things you would like but are not essential. This can help you to decide about a home quickly.

For example, it might be essential for the home to be:

• step-free
• within your budget

But it might be nice but not essential to have things like a:

• spare bedroom for visitors
• garage

Get support from someone to view the home. You can discuss: 

• if it meets your needs
• if it could be adapted to meet your needs
• how much would it cost to adapt it

If you find a home you would like to live in, be ready to move quickly. Ask the landlord or estate agent what documents you will need and get the documents ready.

You can get support with finding homes and applying for them from your local council housing options team. 

Find your local council (GOV.UK)

You can also get free support and advice from:

• Shelter
• Citizens Advice
• Scope
• an independent advocate

A housing advocate can give you support to communicate with your council, housing association or landlord.

This might be when you want to:

• challenge a decision
• make a complaint about your treatment 

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:

• free to use
• trained professionals or volunteers
• independent of councils and housing associations

Get help from an advocate

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:

• your local council
• your local Citizens Advice
• Disability Rights UK

If you think you are being discriminated against for being disabled or receiving benefits, you can get support.

Disability discrimination in rented housing

Disability discrimination by private and public service providers