Disabled Facilities Grant Consultation: Our Response with Inclusion London

DFG Consulation Response - IL and DR UK

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Disability Rights UK had worked with colleagues at Inclusion London to respond to a technical government consultation for the Disabled Facilities Grant Formula. The consultation is about the future funding formula. The government has said the focus is on creating a fairer system for the long term.

The formula change comes ahead of the government's announcement that it will publish a long-term housing strategy later this year. This will be a long-term vision for a housing market that builds 1.5 million 'high-quality homes' and 'delivers the biggest increase in social and affordable housebuilding for a generation'.

The Disabled Facilities Grant (DFG) is a vital tool for improving the accessibility of existing homes. A well-functioning DFG system would help address the high demand for accessible housing, especially in areas with the greatest need. It would also support local authorities to better plan for Disabled people's housing needs by allowing them to assess, map and improve the accessibility of the housing stock that already exists, complementing plans for future housing developments.

However, in its current form, the DFG system is failing. It is outdated, inconsistent, and inaccessible to many. It has effectively become a postcode lottery.

Our consultation response focuses on key areas:

1. The principle of adjusting the formula to reflect better the needs of Disabled children: Almost a third (30%) of families with a Disabled child live in a home that does not meet the needs of their child.

2. Changing the formula to address variations in building costs - With building costs projected to rise by 15% over the next five years, we believe the formula should be updated at least twice a year to reflect the current volatile nature of our economy and ensure Disabled people are not left behind.

3. Emphasising the need for better data - as without a good understanding and assessment of Disabled people's housing needs locally, planning for accessible housing is fundamentally flawed.

Our response stressed that fixing the DFG formula is necessary, but not sufficient. Much more must be done to improve awareness and support for Disabled people applying for DFG, especially in the private rented sector.

Our joint, full response to the consultation is attached as a PDF on the right-hand side of this webpage.