Scotland’sIndependent

Living Movement

Disabled people’s Statement of Ambition for Scotland’s housing*

Our ambition is that all disabled people,and those with long-term conditions,are able to choose a home that meets their needs by virtue of it being accessible, adaptable, affordable and in the right area.

As factors such as their family, support or employment related needs change, disabled peoplecan move to alternative housing in a different geographical area. Their standard of living is the same as that of an equivalent non-disabled person because they do not incur additional housing costs as a result of their impairment.

To achieve this:

  1. National targets will be set, and resources linked to compliance with these, to ensure sufficient accessible housing is developed to a modernised standard across all tenures and in all areas of Scotland.
  2. Housing strategies, and the assessment of need that supports them, will accurately identify and address the unmet needs of disabled people.
  3. More accessible social housing will bebuilt, and homes will be allocated more efficiently, with housing providers working in co-production ([1])with disabled people.
  4. The need for adaptations for disabled people in all tenures will be met free of charge, quickly, effectively and equitably, with individual choice being at the heart of decision making.
  5. Audit and regulatory bodies will monitor public bodies and RSLs’ compliance with duties relating to, and their success in, addressing disabled people’s housing needs.

We believe that:

  • Housing plays a fundamental role in facilitating the economic, social, cultural and civic participation of disabled people within society.
  • Good housing facilitates the most effective and best value provision of social care and health services.
  • No single public body orhousing provider, nor disabled people themselves, can address the significant shortfall of accessible housing in Scotland. Equally, no specific tenure can meet both the practical needs and aspirations of disabled people.
  • Disabled People’s Organisations have a critically important role to play in increasing the capacity of policymakers and practitioners to deploy housing-related resources effectively.

Research shows that, in Scotland:

  • A third of households contain at least one person with a long-standing illness, health problem or disability ([2]).
  • 54% of socially renting households, 29% of owner occupier households and 22% of those renting in the private sector contain someone with a long-standing illness, health problem or disability ([3]).
  • One in five disabled people who require adaptations live in a home that is not very, or not at all, suitable for them ([4]).
  • There are 17,000 too few wheelchair accessible houses ([5])

If we are to achieve our ambition:

  1. We need the Scottish Government toset targets, and link resources to compliance with these, to ensure sufficient accessible housing is developed to a modernised standard across all tenures

The Government recognised the need for action in its Strategy and Action Plan for Housing for the period 2011-2020 ([6]):

‘For 2020, our vision is for a housing system which provides an affordable home for all. To achieve this we will need a…substantial increase in the number of homes of all types, including housing to meet the needs of disabled people…for independent living’

Action is required to ensure theGovernment’s vision becomes a reality. We ask the Government to embrace the need to provide leadership and direction and specifically to:

  • Within the revised Scottish Planning Policy due to be published in June 2014:
  • State clearly the need for local authorities to accurately identify and address the housing needs of disabled people
  • Require ten per cent of developments of twenty homes or more across all tenures to be built to, or be easily adaptable to,wheelchair accessible standard, as is the case in Glasgow ([7])
  • Establish, through a stakeholder group of experts including disabled people, the effectiveness, applicability and recommendations for the improvement of:
  • Building Standards as they relate to accessibility
  • the Housing for Varying Need accessible housing standard
  • Planning Advice Note 78 on Inclusive Design
  1. We needlocal authorities to ensure thathousing strategies, and the assessment of need that supports them, accurately identify and address disabled people’s needs

COSLA is the representative voice of Scottish local government. It was a key signatory to the Framework of Action for Independent Living in Scotland and has committed itself to playing its part in the creation of:

‘…a society where disabled people’s needs are understood and they have equal access to…housing…and they are involved in developing these services’ ([8])

Action is required to ensure this commitment becomes a reality. Specifically, we ask local authorities, with COSLA’s assistance, to:

  • Establish the most effective methods of assessing and meeting the demand for accessible housing through the formation of a stakeholder group of housing professionals working in co-production with disabled people.
  • Ensure that Local Housing Strategies and the Strategic Housing Investment Plans that arise from them proactively address the lack of accessible housing.
  1. We need social housing providerstodevelop more accessible social housing, to ensure homes are allocated more efficiently and to work in co-production with disabled people

The Chartered Institute for Housing is the professional body for the housing sector. It has developed an equality and diversity charter to assist housing providers identify what outcomes a fair and accessible housing service can deliver ([9]).It recognises that:

‘Striving for greater diversity will ensure that the housing sector provides the right services and meets the right needs and aspirations of their customers in their diversity’’ ([10])

To ensure this aspiration becomes a reality in relation to disabled people, we ask local authorities and RSLs to:

  • Establish the shortfall in accessible housing stock through an audit of current and prospective tenants and the housing available, feed the results into the local Housing Need and Demand Assessment and developed plans to address any shortfall.
  • Fund the provision of housing advice and support for, and by, disabled people. This could be through a Disabled Persons Housing Service, a Centre for Inclusive Living or a local Access Panel, for example.
  • Utilise and resource local and national housing registers that help ensure that the limited stock of accessible homes is let quickly and efficiently to the disabled people in greatest need.
  1. We needlocal authorities and RSLs to ensure the need for adaptations for disabled people in all tenures is met free of charge, quickly, effectively and equitably, with individual choice being at the heart of decision making

The Housing Adaptations Working Group, which was established by the Scottish Government and was made up of representatives of local authorities, RSLs, disabled and older people, highlighted that:

‘Adaptations, at the right time, can be life changing for an individual, and for their family members or carers.’ ([11])

To ensure lives really are changed, we ask both local authorities and RSLs to:

  • Ensurethat it is organisational policy to perform an assessment of a disabled person’s need for adaptations prior to establishing, and without undue influence of, the cost of any resulting adaptations.

In addition, we ask local authorities to:

  • Deliver additional discretionary financial support for owner occupiers and private tenants who are only entitled to 80% grant towards works or who need to extend their properties.
  1. We needAudit Scotland and the Scottish Housing Regulator to monitor public bodies and RSLs’ compliance with their duties relating to, and success in, addressing disabled people’s housing needs

Audit Scotland helps ensure public money is spent properly, efficiently and effectively whilst the Scottish Housing Regulator protects the interests of tenants, homeless people and others who use social landlords' services.

The Scottish Housing Regulator is tasked with assessing performance against the Scottish Housing Charter, the first outcome of which is that:

‘Every tenant and other customer has their individual needs recognised, is treated fairly and with respect, and receives fair access to housing and housing services.’ ([12])

To ensure this outcome is achieved, we ask the Regulator to:

  • Conduct a thematic study of housing providers’ success in meeting the housing needs of their current and prospective disabled tenants.

Audit Scotland conducts audits of the performance of Scotland’s public bodies. It recognises that:

‘Equalities groups…see Audit Scotland as a potentially powerful voice in promoting and encouraging equality, and highlighting organisations and services where improvement is needed.’ ([13])

To turn this potential into a reality, we ask Audit Scotland to:

  • Include, in their audit programme for 2014/15, an audit of the performance of local authorities in assessing, planning for and directing investment towards, meeting the need for accessible housing.

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*This Statement of Ambition originated with the members of the Scottish Independent Living Coalition (SILC – a group of Disabled People’s Organisations). It was developed by a sub-group made up of GCIL, ILiS and SDEF with support from Richard Hamer.

1

[1] - For a full explanation of co-production see:

[2] - Scottish Government (2013) Scotland's People Annual Report: Results from 2012 Scottish Household Survey

[3] - As above

[4] - Scottish Government (2014) Response to ad hoc request for analysis of Scottish House Condition Survey & Capability Scotland (2010) 1 in 4 Poll – housing survey report

[5] - Horizon Housing & CIH (2012) Mind the step: An estimation of housing need among wheelchair users in Scotland

[6] - Scottish Government (2011) Homes Fit for the 21st Century

[7] - Glasgow City Council’s RES 4 - Barrier Free Homes

[8] - Rights to Reality: A Framework of Action for Independent Living in Scotland 2013 to 2015

[9] - CIH (2012) Equality and Diversity: CIH Charter for Housing

[10] - CIH website page Equality and diversity: CIH charter for housing

[11] - Scottish Government (2012) Adaptations Working Group - Final report - Adapting for Change

[12] - Scottish Government (2012) The Scottish Social Housing Charter

[13]- Audit Scotland (2013) Equalities Outcomes