Housing adaptions for older and disabled people

What is an adaptation?

If you are disabled, there may be physical barriers that make it difficult for you to carry out ordinary day to day activities. An adaptation to your home will enable you to move around your home and access its facilties more easily. An adaptation will also make it easier for your carers to look after you.

Typical adaptations include:

• Stair lifts and through floor lifts
• Ramps, rails and step lifts
• Door widening for wheelechair access
• Adapting kitchens by providing low level units
• Level access showers and other bathroom alterations
• Improving heating

In some cases, only minor alterations are needed, for example grab rails, hand rails or lever taps. You should request this when you first request an assessment by an occupational therapist.

How can we help?

To apply for adaptations to your home, you will first need to arrange for an assessment  (pdf, 7 KB) by an occupational therapist (O.T.) 

To arrange this, contact us on the numbers at the bottom of this page depending whether the disabled person is an adult or child.
Please note: There is a high demand for this service and unfortunately there will be a delay before the O.T. will visit.

Adaptions for council tenants - major or minor adaptations

The occupational therapist makes a referral to the Home Adaptations Service (HAS) and the process then depends on whether the works are major (pdf, 6 KB) or minor (pdf, 7 KB) adaptations.

Please note: A further waiting list is held by the HAS and your referral will be dealt with in priority and date order. You will be advised of the likely timescale once the team has received the referral from your O.T.

View our adaptations process diagram for council tenants (pdf, 14 KB) or download the leaflet Information for Council Tenants (pdf, 393 KB)

Adaptations for owner occupiers and private tenants - mandatory grant

If you are an owner or a private tenant and if you or someone living with you has mobility or health problems you may qualify for a disabled facilities grant (pdf, 327 KB)towards the cost of providing adaptations and facilities to enable that person to continue to live there. If the grant does not cover the full cost, a low cost loan may be available to meet the difference.

View our adaptations process diagram for owners and private tenants (pdf, 18 KB) or download the leaflet Information for Owner Occupiers and Private Tenants (pdf, 277 KB).

Adaptations for owner occupiers - Discretionary Adaptations Assistance (DAA)

This is a discretionary grant given to homeowners and can sometimes be given in conjunction with the disabled facilities grant.

Hospital Discharge / Urgent Adaptations Assistance

Urgent Adaptations Assistance is another discretionary form of assistance and is given to enable a disabled person to be discharged from hospital or to carry out urgent adaptations for a terminally ill person. 

Contact us

Care Direct for disabled adults:

Telephone: 0117 922 2700
Fax: 0117 903 6688
Minicom: 0117 903 6689
Email to adult.care@bristol.gov.uk

For disabled children contact the Children and Young Peoples Services:

Telephone: 0117 903 8250
Fax: 903 8254
Minicom: 0117 903 3825
Email to disabledchildren@bristol.gov.uk

Other organisations who can help

Bristol Care and Repair
5 Hide Market,
Waterloo Street, St. Phillips,
Bristol BS2 0BH
Tel: 0117 954 2222
Fax: 0117 954 1717
Email: info@bristolcareandrepair.org.uk

Age UK (formerly Help The Aged) / Age Concern
Canningford House,
38 Victoria Street,
Bristol BS1 6BY
Tel: 0117 929 7537 or Freephone Age UK 0800 169 6565
Email: admin@ageconcernbristol.org.uk
Website: www.ageconcernbristol.org.uk

Living DLC (previously the Disabled Living Centre)
The Vassall Centre,
Gill Avenue,
Fishponds,
Bristol BS16 2QQ,
Tel / minicom: 0117 965 3651,
Fax: 0117 965 3652,
Email:info@thisisliving.org.uk
Website: www.thisisliving.org.uk