Applying to the Council’s Housing Register

Some Council and housing association homes are suitable for residents with disabilities or mobility difficulties. For example, the homes might be suitable for residents who use wheelchairs, or residents who find stairs difficult. They help residents live more independent lives. These types of homes are sometimes called accessible homes.

The shortage of accessible homes

There is a shortage of accessible homes in Kensington and Chelsea. This means that the residents who need to move to a more accessible home can sometimes face a long wait until a suitable home becomes available. We want to make sure that when accessible homes do become available, they go to residents who need them. Therefore, we use the Accessible Housing Register (AHR) guidance to work out what kind of home a resident needs, and how accessible a Council or housing association home is. 

What is the Accessible Housing Register (AHR) guidance?

The AHR guidance is produced by the Mayor of London and can be found on the Mayor’s london.gov.uk website: The London Accessible Housing Register.

The guidance sets out different categories of home based on how accessible the home is. Using this guidance, the Council can decide which category fits an available Council or housing association home. The guidance also helps us decide what kind of accessible home is needed by a resident with disabilities, mobility difficulties or other health conditions. This means we can match the category of a home with the category of a resident. If you need an accessible home, you should have a health and independence assessment. 

The following table explains the AHR categories:
 

Category	Description of the home	Description of the resident
A Wheelchair accessible	Designed to meet the latest accessible housing design standards offering extra space and full access to all rooms and facilities.	Resident requires fully wheelchair accessible accommodation, into and out of the home, and within the home. Resident may use a large wheelchair and requires more generous space standards for wheelchair circulation or specialist equipment.
B Wheelchair Accessible	Designed to older wheelchair standards or significantly adapted to provide extra space and wheelchair access to at least the entrance level of the property. Provides access to essential facilities (bedroom, bathroom, kitchen and living room).	Resident requires wheelchair accessible accommodation. Resident uses a standard wheelchair and may only need to access entrance level facilities.
C Lifetime Homes	Designed to meet the space standards of Lifetime Homes. Main step features include a step-free approach/entrance and wider doorways.	Resident is able to mobilise but requires step-free accommodation. Resident may use a mobility aid or wheelchair and requires property with no steps.
D Easy Access	Main features include a level approach to the entrance, wider doorways and more space than in general needs housing.
E Step-Free	General needs housing with a step-free approach/entrance to the property.
E+ Minimal Steps	Has up to 6 steps to access the front door.	Resident is able to manage only a limited number of steps (up to 6).
F General Needs	Has more than 6 steps or ramp access that is steeper than 1:10.	Resident does not need an accessible home.

How we let accessible homes

They can be let through Home Connections or by direct offer. When an accessible home becomes available, we will first look to offer it to a resident we have assessed as needing it. Therefore, the accessible home will be offered to someone who needs it before someone who does not, even if the person who needs it has fewer points.

What happens if there are no properties being advertised in the category I need?

There is a limited stock of more accessible properties in the borough. You may need to widen your preferred location or consider other properties where minor adaptations will make it suitable for you. The Housing Health & Disability Team can support you to bid for and view properties and advise you what adaptations can be made.