Propertymark urges government to do more to focus on housing disabled people – London Wallet

Following the UK government’s response to the Housing Committee’s Inquiry into disabled people in the housing sector, Propertymark has written to housing minister Rushanara Ali, saying that amongst the UK government’s plans for more homes there must be a greater focus on housing for people with a disability and older people.

In the last parliament, Propertymark provided written and oral evidence to the Levelling Up, Housing and Communities Committee’s Inquiry into Disabled People in the Housing Sector. The current UK government provided a 14 page response to the Committee’s recommendations on 6 March 2025.

The Committee suggested that local authorities should retain a database of accessible social housing. The UK government said that this should be to the discretion of local councils, but Propertymark went further than the Committee in recommending that all housing be included on the database, including homes to rent from private landlords. This should be featured in councils’ Local Plans moving forward. This is central because of the shortage of social housing and the fact that housing needs to be near support mechanisms for older persons and people with a disability.

Propertymark says it is pleased that the UK government has made progress on building more accessible properties and their call for local councils to enhance their data through the National Planning Policy Framework, which mandates local councils to determine the size, types and tenure of housing necessary for different groups, like older people and people with a disability. This was one of Propertymark’s recommendations featured in its evidence, and the professional body has offered to provide further access to its members’ insights into this issue through a roundtable discussion.

The Disabled Facilities Grant is another key area with Propertymark calling for an increase in the application of the Grant via promotion and to dispel any myths about adapting property using the fund. Furthermore, Propertymark stated that there should be grant funding for landlords who do not currently have sitting tenants but want to ensure their property is accessible, calling on an uplift of the Disabled Facilities Grant in England from £30,000 to £36,000, as it is in Wales. This is vital to cover costs that have increased like labour and materials. At present, landlords can only receive the funding if they have an eligible tenant in situ. This is restrictive and does not allow for property to be adapted during void periods and prior to tenants moving in.

Tim Thomas, policy and campaigns officer at Propertymark, said: “Propertymark has consistently engaged with successive governments on the need to improve access to housing for both older people and people with a disability. To maximise these opportunities and ultimately to increase the provision of accessible housing, the UK government must ensure that local authorities have the resources needed to signpost their accommodation, continue to improve supply through Local Plans and the National Planning Policy Framework, and do more to promote the Disabled Facilities Grant to landlords, tenants and property agents.”