If you are disabled and are finding it difficult to cope in your home, you may be able to get adaptations carried out to make your home easier for you to use.
You can apply for a grant, if you or a member of your family who lives with you are disabled, a resident of Hounslow, and either an owner-occupier or a private tenant.
A disabled facilities grant helps towards the cost of making adaptions or providing facilities to help you continue to live independently in your home. Adaptations, which may help you could include:
grab rails for he bathroom or entrance;
a ramp;
widening doors for wheelchair access;
a stair lift;
a level access shower.
All disabled facilities grant applications are considered by the Council's occupational therapy service or Hounslow Primary Care Trust, who will recommend what works and what would help you most.
A disabled facilities grant can only be given if it is considered to be reasonable and practicable considering the age and condition of your home.
The maximum grant which we can give is £30,000. If the costs of the adaptations you need are over this maximum limit, it will be subject to the Council's Discretionary Repairs Grants policy.
For further information about this type of grant contact Private Sector Housing Unit on 020 8583 3874/3876/3877
E-mail: privatesectorhousing.grants@hounslow.gov.uk
Getting advice
If you would like some advice about help in your home contact the Adult Access Team, who can arrange to put you in contact with the Occupational Therapy services. See the link.
Frequently Asked Questions -
Who can apply for a grant?
A disabled person, who is resident of Hounslow and either owns their home or is a private tenant.
What type of adatation can be grant funded?
The following types of work, when recommended by the occupational therapist can be paid for by this grant provided they are necessary and appropriate:
adaptations to make it easier for you to get in and out of your home
helping you access your bedroom or providing a new bedroom
helping your access the principle family room in your home
creating a bathroom or helping you access your bathroom
providing a toilet or works to help you use your current toilet facilities
providing or helping you use washing facilities
improvements to your home to help you prepare and cook food (only if used by the disabled person)
providing or improving a heating system
making changes to make it easier for you to use the power, light or heating in your home
making your home safe.
Once the occupational therapist recommends what works would help you, a technical officer from Private Sector Housing Unit and the occupational therapist will visit you. They will evaluate a cost effective scheme and tell you about the grant procedure.
How will the grant be calculated?
All applications are subject to a means test. A means test wil take into account the circumstances of the disabled person who the works will help and their spouse or partner, to see how much you will need to pay towards the cost of the works. A parent's application for their disabled child under the age of 19 and in full time education (if applicable) is not subject to means test.
To apply for the grant, contact us.
Contact
The Adult Access Team
41 New Heston Road
Heston
TW5 OLW
Tel. 020 8583 3100
Fax 020 8583 3187
Minicom 020 8583 3186
E-mail: adultsocialcare@hounslow.gov.uk
Or
The Private Sector Housing Unit
Civic Centre
Lampton Road
Hounslow
Middlesex
TW3 4DN
Telephone: 020 8583 3874/3876/3877
Fax:020 8583 3990
Minicom:020 8583 3900
E-mail: privatesectorhousing.grants@hounslow.gov.uk