Rebecca Long Bailey – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Rebecca Long Bailey on 2016-06-03.

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, whether it is his policy to require social housing providers to ensure that a proportion of their properties are adapted for disabled residents.

Mr Marcus Jones

The Government already has measures in place to help people with disabilities to live independently. It has committed to support disabled people to live safely in independent accommodation suitable to their needs by investing over £1 billion pounds through Disabled Facilities Grant since 2010.

There are no plans to require local authorities to require social housing providers to ensure that a proportion of their properties are adapted for disabled residents.

The Government is also investing over £200 million to develop over 4,000 affordable homes providing specialised accommodation for older people and adults with physical disabilities, learning difficulties or mental health needs, through the Care and Support Specialised Housing Fund. The statutory ‘reasonable preference’ requirements ensure that priority for social housing is given to those who need to move on medical and welfare grounds, including grounds relating to a disability.