Grants and adaptations

If you find it difficult to manage at home, specialist equipment or adaptations to your home may make life easier for you. The Council can help you to find equipment suppliers, or help you directly if you are eligible.

If you have a permanent disability, the Council can help you to remain independent at home.

An occupational therapist will visit you and carry out an assessment. They will give you advice and discuss the best options to maximise your independence. This may include recommending specialist equipment or adaptations to your home.

What is specialist equipment?

This is equipment to help with daily tasks, for example a raised toilet seat or equipment to help you get in or out of the bath. If you are eligible for support from the Council you will be given a prescription for equipment which you can take to a retailer of your choice. There is more information about this equipment and who supplies it on the People First website.

What is an adaptation?

Adaptations are changes to your home to help you move around more easily or use the kitchen and bathroom. There are two main kinds:

Minor adaptations

These could be things such as installing hand rails around your home or lever taps in your bathroom or kitchen.

Major adaptations

These involve building work and could include installing:

  • a shower over the bath
  • a level access shower
  • ramps
  • stair lifts or step lifts
  • low level kitchen units

They could also include widening doors for wheelchair access.

How do I pay for the adaptations?

If you own your own home

If you own your home, you can apply for a Disabled Facilities Grant to pay for adaptation(s).

This grant is means-tested, so depending on how much money you have, you may have to contribute towards the cost or pay the whole cost. You will not have to pay if you receive a means-test benefit, for example Pension Credit, Housing Benefit or Income Support. The grant for people under 19 is not means-tested, so adaptations for children are free of charge. Staying First is a local voluntary  organisation that specialises in helping residents to adapt and maintain their homes. It can support you through the process of paying for building work to your home (with or without a grant) and seeing the work completed. If you prefer, you could use your own builder, surveyor or architect to plan and install your adaptations, instead of using Staying First.

If you rent from a private landlord

If you rent from a private landlord, you can also apply for a Disabled Facilities Grant and you can get help from Staying First as described above. Your landlord will need to give permission for the adaptations to be carried out.

If you are a Tenant Management Organisation (TMO) tenant

If you are a TMO tenant, the occupational therapist will liaise with the TMO’s adaptations surveyor to arrange the works which will be carried out at no cost to you.

If you are a housing association tenant

If you are a housing association tenant, the occupational therapist will liaise with your housing association to arrange for the works to be carried out at no cost to you.

How do I get specialist equipment or adaptations?

If you have a permanent disability and would like to find out more about specialist equipment or adaptations or arrange an assessment, you can call our Social Servicesline on: 020 7361 3013, or email socialservices@rbkc.gov.uk

They will arrange for a member of the occupational therapy team to contact you to discuss what kind of help you need.