What are aids and adaptations?
We want you to be able to enjoy your home. If you, someone you live with or someone who visits with you is finding it difficult to move about or use your home, we can help to make things easier. Aids and adaptations can range from things like:
- grab rails
- ramps
- level-access showers
- stair lifts
We grade aids and adaptations to your home by the value of the works. We have three aids and adaptations works priorities;
- Minor adaptations - These works are typically over the bath showers, hand rails, grab rails and any works less than £1,000 in value. To get these type of works done you will need to contact your doctor to get them to advise us what works are required to your home, once we receive this referral we will do the works within 28 days, budget permitting.
- Planned minor adaptations - These works are over £1,000 in value but less than £10,000 in value. Typically they are works like, level access showers, wet rooms, and stair lifts. You will need to provide us with an occupational therapists report on what works are required to your home, and you will need to make a Disability Facility Grant(DFG) application for funding towards the cost of the works. Viridian Housing will provide 40% towards the cost of the works and we expect DFG funding to provide the remaining 60% of the cost of the works. We expect to complete works in 18 weeks from the time we receive your referral, budget permitting.
- Planned major adaptations - These works are over £10,000 in value. They will be works like extensions to your home for bathrooms and bedrooms, and through the floor lifts. You will need to provide us with an Occupational Therapists report on what works are required to your home, and you will need to make a Disability Facility Grant(DFG) application for funding towards the cost of the works. Viridian Housing will provide up a to a maximum of £4,000 contribution towards the cost of the works and we expect DFG funding to provide the remaining funding. Because of the extent of these works we may need to make planning and building regulation applications, we will also need to work closely with your health professionals and local authority DFG team to decide on what works are best suited to your needs. We expect to complete works in 26 weeks from the time we receive your referral, budget permitting.
How do I get an occupational therapists to asses my home?
When we need to undertake planned minor and planned major adaptations to your home will ask that your occupational therapist provides a report on what works are required to your home. This ensures the works which are carried out meet your needs. Your doctor will be able to advise you the best way to contact an occupational therapist . The occupational therapists team may work for your council or health authority, depending on where you live. Your local council or your doctor will be able to tell you who to speak to but, if you need help, we can put you in touch with the right team, please contact your scheme manager, housing officer or support officer if you require any advice.
What is a disabled facilities grant?
A disabled facilities grant is money towards the cost of adaptations you need to help you live in your home. The maximum grant available is £30,000. This budget is managed by your Local Council and you will need to put in an application for this funding which will be means tested based on your income and the savings you have. If you have substantial savings or income you may find that you wont be eligible for funding, or need to make a contribution towards the funding of the works. If you need help on completing your DFG application, please contact your scheme manager, housing officer for advice.
Find out more about disabled facilities grants on the Directgov website
Who will do the works?
If we are managing the works then we will ask Viridian Facilities Management to do the works. Sometimes though dependent on your local council we will be approached to contribute towards the cost of the works and then your local council will do the works, or appoint their own contractor to do the works. We will work together with the local council to ensure you are clear on what works are being done, by when and advise you who is doing works.
For more information
- Download our aids and adaptations leaflet
- Download our aids and adaptations policy
- Or speak to your housing officer or scheme manger
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