Agenda item

To consider the adoption of the Housing Landlord Services, Disabled Adaptations Policy 2025 – 2028 (report of the Assistant Director – Housing enclosed).

Consideration was given to the report of the Assistant Director – Housing which considered the adoption of the Housing Landlord Services Disabled Adaptations Policy 2025-2028.

The Housing Transformation Officer (HRA) introduced the Disabled Adaptations Policy, highlighting the following points:

• The policy aimed to support independent living, safety, and dignity.
• Extensive consultation had been carried out with tenants, members, partners, and professional bodies, and the feedback received had shaped the final draft.
• The policy aligned with the Disabled Facilities Grant (DFG) model to ensure consistency of support across all tenures in the district, in line with government expectations.
• Key changes introduced in the policy included:

o    Means testing for major and significant adaptations, with exemptions outlined in the policy.

o    A prioritisation system based on need and urgency to ensure timely support for those most in need.

o    An appeals panel including impartial tenants, which was the most popular option during consultation.

o    Support for tenants where adaptations were refused due to the availability of more suitable accommodation, including help with moving and updating services.

o    A service charge for certain adaptations such as stairlifts, that require regular servicing resulting in ongoing maintenance costs.

o    Rent reassessment where significant adaptations (e.g. extensions) were made to a property that add an additional bedroom.

Members considered the update and made the following comments:

• Members welcomed the policy and praised its clarity and tenant-focused approach.

• Members queried whether tenants who lodge appeals would be present at the panel and how impartial tenants would be selected to sit on the appeals panel.
  • The Housing Transformation Officer (HRA) confirmed that panel members would be drawn from the tenant forum and that the tenant applying for the adaptation would not be present during the panel’s discussion to ensure impartiality.Impartial tenants would be selected from the newly formed Tenant Forum.
• Members asked how the panel would comply with GDPR so not to provide personal information on the tenant who lodged the appeal.
  • The Housing Transformation Officer (HRA) confirmed that no personal data would be disclosed. The appeals panel would be conducted using anonymised or non-identifiable information to protect tenant privacy and ensure data protection obligations were met.
• Members questioned what would happen if a tenant struggled to make their contribution following the means testing process.
  • The Housing Transformation Officer (HRA) confirmed that the means testing process incorporated the tenant’s ability to contribute as well as their income and capital and that exemptions to means testing applied for those on certain income related benefits.
• Members raised concerns about Universal Credit and Housing Benefit not necessarily reflecting a tenant’s ability to pay.
  • The Housing Transformation Officer (HRA) acknowledged this and confirmed that the process was designed to be flexible and fair.
• Members asked why the Council’s Disabled Facilities Grant (DFG) allocation could not be used to support tenants within council owned housing stock.
  • The Housing Transformation Officer (HRA) confirmed that whilst governments expectation was to align support across all tenures, guidance was explicit that councils could not use their DFG allocation to fund works in council owned properties and instead, should use their Housing Revenue Account.

• There was discussion around major adaptations funded by tenants themselves and how the Council ensured compliance with Building Control and Planning regulations.

• • It was noted that this requirement should be clearly referenced in the Tenancy Management Policy.
    • The Housing Transformation Officer (HRA) would provide clarity to the members outside of the meeting.
• Members raised the difference in results between the surveys that took place on current and future provision.
  • The Housing Transformation Officer (HRA) confirmed that feedback on future provision was much stronger but that insights from the consultation would help shape future engagement strategies.

Councillor Beal left the meeting at 19.59pm

AGREED:

a)    That the recommendation to Cabinet to adopt the Housing Landlord Services Disabled Adaptations Policy 2025-2028, be endorsed.

b)    That the recommendation to Cabinet to delegate minor operational and legislative amendments to the Assistant Director for Housing in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Strategic and Operational Housing, be supported

c)    That the continued delegation to the Assistant Director for Housing to undertake all operational and managerial decisions related to the HRA disabled aids and adaptations policy including determining requests for aids and adaptations, be supported.

d)    That the Policy Development Panel be presented with an update on the Housing Landlord Services Disabled Adaptations Policy 2025-2028, one year from its adoption at Cabinet.