A report by the Levelling Up, Housing and Communities Committee has found that "Disabled people undeniably encounter unnecessary and severe barriers to accessing suitable housing in England."
The report, which was informed by "over 1000 people who responded to our online survey or provided written evidence, including hundreds of personal accounts from disabled people.", highlighted the horrendous impact that living in inaccessible housing can have on a disabled person's life.
To write their report, members of the cross-party levelling up, housing and communities committee heard evidence from Mikey Erhardt, campaigner at Disability Rights UK, amongst others, who told them that decisions made in the House of Commons and by other organisations "have led to this crisis" and that disabled people had been "consistently failed".
He said: "There is very little provision for accessible housing in this country, even less provision for accessible, affordable housing, and even less provision for accessible, affordable housing in your local area."
He said that one in five disabled people in social housing and one in three in private rented housing had an unmet housing need, while many were living with hazards such as damp, cold or mould that were exacerbating their long-term health conditions or impairments.
At the time he told the committee: "Where we're at now is that we are at a bit of a breaking point.
The committee's report recommended that:
- Local authorities must do more to consider the needs of disabled people when planning for housing in their local plans.
- Review the £30,000 upper limit on individual DFGs, and set new regional upper limits which take account of inflation and construction costs;
- Simplify the DFG means test, and ensure it does not disproportionately penalise working disabled people.
- Build more homes — including 90,000 new social rent homes per year, and more accessible homes.
You can find the full report on the House of Commons website.