Disabled people in the housing sector inquiry - Levelling-Up Committee publishes evidence ahead of opening evidence session on Monday

• Published Written Evidence
• Watch live on parliamentlive.tv
• Inquiry: Disabled people in the housing sector
• Survey: Disabled People in the Housing Sector
• Disabled Facilities Grants
• Terms of reference
• Levelling Up, Housing and Communities

The written evidence published today includes evidence from a range of organisations including Disability Rights UK, Inclusion London, Housing Made for Everyone (HoME) coalition, and Habinteg, Propertymark, and the Chartered Institute of Building.

The written evidence submissions cover a range of issues relating to progress on mandating a minimum standard of accessible and adaptable dwellings for all new homes, developers incentives to build new accessible homes, references to disabled people in the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), and whether the maximum grant under the Disabled Facilities Grant (DFG) should be reviewed.

At Monday’s evidence session, the cross-party group of MPs are likely to question witnesses on a range of topics relating to disabled people’s experiences of finding suitable housing; the provision of support for disabled people to adapt their homes, including the DFG; and to what extent planning policy supports the delivery of accessible housing.

The inquiry is examining the role of Government, local councils and developers in ensuring the delivery of suitable housing for disabled people and what the Government can do to support disabled tenants in the private rented sector in England.

The Committee is also looking at the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) and whether it ensures housebuilding complies with the Equality Act 2010. The inquiry is also  examining the progress made since the publication of the findings (in July 2022) of the Government’s consultation titled ‘Raising accessibility standards for new homes’.

Key questions for the inquiry are included in the full terms of reference which are listed in this news website item.

The Committee will also be looking at how far the Government can ensure it provides provision to support disabled residents who do not live in new build homes and whether the Disabled Facilities Grant supports housing adaptations.

The Committee recently launched an online survey for its inquiry looking at what Government can do to ensure disabled people have access to accessible and adaptable housing in England (see news item). The survey is designed to gather disabled people’s views and experiences of finding or adapting suitable housing. The closing date for responses is Thursday 15 February.

Witnesses:

Monday 5 February, Committee Room 15, Palace of Westminster

From 16.00

• Mikey Erhardt, Policy and Campaigns Officer, Disability Rights UK
• Christina McGill, Co-Chair, HoME coalition (Housing Made for Everyone), Director of Social Impact and External Affairs, Habinteg Housing Association
• Jacquel Runnalls, Co-opted Lead in Accessibility and Inclusive Design, Royal College of Occupational Therapist’s (RCOT) Specialist Section in Housing

From 17.00

• Cllr Victor Chamberlain, Member of the Local Infrastructure & Net Zero Board, Local Government Association, and Leader of the Opposition (Liberal Democrats) on Southwark Council
• Adrian Dobson, Executive Director Professional Knowledge and Standards, Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA)
• Timothy Douglas, Head of Policy and Campaigns, Propertymark
• Sam Stafford, Planning Director, Home Builders Federation

Further information

• About Parliament: Select committees
• Visiting Parliament: Watch committees

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