'Nightmare' rental shortage for the disabled, EHRC finds

The shortage of private rental properties suitable for disabled people has been exposed in a new report.

Published on: 11/05/18

The Equalities and Human Rights Commission said 93% of 8.5 million rental properties in the UK were not accessible to the disabled.

It called on ministers to take action to improve housing accessibility.

The government said it was providing councils with almost £1bn over the next two years to adapt properties for disabled people.

"We expect landlords to adapt properties for tenants. We are clear they must not unreasonably withhold consent if they are asked to make changes to homes," a Department of Housing, Communities & Local Government spokesman said.

The EHRC said its 18-month review found 365,000 disabled people were in homes unsuitable for their needs.

"Accommodation for disabled people in this country is not acceptable," said David Isaac, chairman of the commission.

"The lack of accessible housing stops disabled people from being able to live independently."

Neil Heslop, chief executive of the Leonard Cheshire disability charity, said the report was a "shocking indictment of how disabled people have largely been forgotten in the housing priorities of local and national government".

Read the full story on the BBC.