Frequently
Asked
Questions

Changes that can be made to the home that make it safer and easier to do everyday tasks.

A means tested Grant for people with a permanent disability. It enables you to make changes to the home to help you continue living there safely, for longer. The DFG is a mandatory grant that means is must be provided to any eligible applicant.

Disabled Facilities Grant

An applicant must either own the property or be a tenant, with the intention to remain in the property for at least 5 years. Either you or the person living in your property must have a disability. This means a landlord can apply for a DFG on behalf of a tenant. Any tenants who apply will require their Landlords permission for work to proceed as part of the approval process.

Disabled Facilities Grants are issued and paid by your Local Authority. You can contact the Council directly or contact us at Steinwall where we can assist you in making an application.

An assessment will need be carried out to determine if your home is suitable for adaptation. This can be arranged by your local Council who can arrange for an Occupational Therapist or a Surveyor to visit. You may wish to engage the services of a private Occupational Therapist or Surveyor who can determine the suitability. Steinwall or your local Home Improvement Agency will be able to assist you with this. This can often be referred to as the ‘non-agency’ route. A DFG application will need to be completed and relevant documentation provided to prove home ownership or written consent from the owner. Submit the application form including all required information to Local Authority and await decision. The Council has a duty to make a decision in writing within 6 months.

An applicant who is approve or applying for a DFG may choose not to use the services of the relevant Local Authority to get the work done. They will be able to appoint a competent person(s) or agency of their choice, to act on their behalf. They will then be responsible for ensuring all conditions of the grant are adhered to and all requested information is submitted to the Local Authority as necessary. They will have to ensure the proposed work has been completed in order for grant funding to be released from the Local Authority. This route offers the most choice and flexibility for applicants.

The maximum amount a Local Authority can award in England is £30,000. Wales - £36,000 Northern Ireland - £25,000. Scotland - does not provide DFG but may assist with adaptations & equipment. Contact your Local Council

DFG’s are usually non-repayable so long as at application stage, you state and certify your ‘intention’ to remain living at the property that is being adapted for at least five years. Local Authorities may place a Local Land charge against the property lasting 10 years after works have been completed. This means that some of grant may need to be repaid if the property is sold within this period of time.

Approved adaptation works must be complete within 12 months of the DFG approval date. This also applies to ‘non-agency’ project. There may be extenuating circumstances where a grant completion date can be extended, but this would be need to be discussed & agreed with your Local Authority.

You will likely be refused a Grant if you commence works on your home before a Grant has been approved.

You may use a builder of your choice if you have opted to undertake adaptation work yourself, often referred to as the ‘non-agency’ route or if you are self-funding. If opting to use the services of the Local Authority, they will have a list of approved contractors.

Each Local Authority will have different waiting times for you to be allocated a Occupational Therapist, a Surveyor or for works to commence. Your Local Authority should be able to advise you on approximate waiting times but be mindful these could be lengthy.

Most Councils will generally have a list of materials\products that they request for their builders to use. In some instances you may get to choose your own wall tiles or other items but each Council will have their own rules. The ‘non-agency’ (finding your own Surveyor and/or Builder) route offers choice and flexibility in regards to materials used.

Self-funding ultimately means you will be funding the works yourself and will not be applying for a DFG, so you will not need to contact the Council in that aspect. However, depending on the proposed works there may be statutory matters where the Council must be contacted (Planning & Building Control approval).

Employing an independent Occupational Therapist is way to get a second opinion and there will usually be a cost to this. Bare in mind, a second opinion will not necessarily always overturn the original decision. There will usually be a process where the original decision can be challenged with the relevant Local Authority, via an appeal or complaint.