Ombudsman issues guidance for councils on Disabled Facilities Grants

The Good Practice Guide, published today (26 June), includes several case studies from Ombudsman investigations to illustrate the difficulties people have faced, and the remedies recommended by the regulator to put the problems right.

The guidance highlights that councils can improve disabled people’s experiences and avoid adding to the injustice caused by the shortage of suitable housing, by “getting the basics right”.

It says: “In Disabled Facilities Grants, this means:

• ensuring robust procedures set out expectations for all services involved in delivering DFGs, including timescales, to avoid delay;
• communicating clearly and effectively with applicants;
• keeping accurate and detailed records, particularly of the agreed works and amount of the grant awarded;
• ensuring the completed works meet the assessed needs;
• having regard to the additional guidance on DFGs for children”

DFGs are provided under the Housing Grants, Construction and Regeneration Act 1996.

Councils have a statutory duty to give grants to disabled people for certain adaptations. These include enabling the disabled person to access their home and essential facilities within the home, like bathrooms, bedrooms, and kitchens.

The guidance notes that delay is the most common fault the Ombudsman finds in complaints about DFGs.

The Ombudsman gives the following target timescales for approving a grant and completing the work:

• Urgent and simple works – 55 working days
• Non-urgent and simple works – 130 working days
• Urgent and complex works – 130 working days
• Non-urgent and complex works – 180 working days

Other common issues and complaints highlighted in the guidance include record keeping, ensuring the adaptations meet the person’s needs, and DFGs for children.

Amerdeep Somal, Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman said: “Disabled Facilities Grants can play an essential role in helping people remain in their homes for as long as possible with the best possible quality of life.

“They are often complex, not just because of extensive building work, but also the numerous organisations involved. So it’s essential that councils do all they can to avoid delay, and ensure any work is carried out to adequately meet people’s needs. When it does not, we know this can be extremely stressful for the people involved.

“We are issuing this guide – directly aimed at those officers who work with Disabled people in their homes – to help ensure local councils get things right.”

Lottie Winson