Landlord group highlights need to increase funding
With recent reports suggesting that a pledge to increase funding for disabled people to access suitable housing has been abandoned, a group of landlords has called on ministers not to backtrack on those commitments.
A story published by the BBC claimed that the government is no longer dedicated to raising the amount accessible to disabled people in England through the Disabled Facilities Grant (DFG), which assists in covering the expenses of adjustments required by individuals with disabilities to facilitate their independent living.
Previous research conducted by the National Residential Landlords Association (NRLA) indicates that landlords who are aware of the DFG are significantly more inclined to make necessary adaptations to their properties for disabled tenants.
However, the NRLA cautions that without an increase in the cap on available funds, financing these adaptations will become increasingly challenging.
Since 2008, the maximum sum an individual can claim from the DFG in England has remained capped at £30,000, failing to keep pace with inflation. Despite a prior commitment to consider raising this cap through consultation, the government has reportedly not progressed with this initiative.
“Every disabled person deserves a home that meets their needs and enables them to live as independently as possible,” commented Ben Beadle (pictured), chief executive of the National Residential Landlords Association. “To do so, however, requires adequate funding.
“Unless it fully reviews the cap on the Disabled Facilities Grant to better reflect growing costs, the government will make it impossible for many to afford the adaptations they desperately need.
“Ministers need to keep their word and commit to uprating the grants available to disabled people.”
In England’s private rented sector alone, over 1.2 million households include individuals with disabilities or long-term illnesses.
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