Adapted housing

How do I apply?

Contact the Private Sector Services team. Email customerservices@guildford.gov.uk or call 01483 505050.

What are adaptations?

We can make changes to your home if, due to age or disability, you are finding daily activities hard. We can provide simple adaptations and equipment to help you move around your home. We can provide small pieces of equipment, including:

raised toilet seats
shower seats
shower rails

Where adaptations are complex, a different home might be better. We offer incentives to move to a smaller property which may not need adaptations.

Who can apply?

Anyone with a medical condition or physical disability. You can apply for yourself or on behalf of someone in your household.

Occupational therapist

We may ask an occupational therapist or bathing advisor to visit you in your home. They will recommend the adaptations needed and how urgent they are.

Minor adaptations

Minor adaptations do not need occupational therapist assessment. We will carry the work out in 28 days.

This type of work includes:

Lever taps
Stair or banister rails
Socket raisers
Window winders
Re-hanging doors to give better access
Grab rails
Outside rails
Door entry
Fitting key safes
Fitting security lights
Steps

Major adaptations

These are changes to your home that involve building work. An occupational therapist will assess if you need major adaptations or equipment. They will check if your home can be adapted to meet your needs. They may decide it might be better to find you somewhere more suitable to live. An occupational therapist will need to assess you for the following adaptations:

Stairlifts
Through floor lifts
Bath lifts
Over bath showers
Level access showers
Door widening
Wheelchair accessible kitchens
Hard standings
Ramps and steps
Extensions

The occupational therapist will recommend the adaptations needed and how urgent they are. We have a limited budget for adaptations and equipment. We may not be able to carry out all the recommendations.

Are there any adaptations we can't carry out?

There are some adaptations which we can't carry out. These include:

Building a mobility scooter store
Showers in sheltered accommodation schemes (where communal facilities are suitable)
Adaptations for friends or visitors

We may say no to requests for adaptations if:

There is a more suitable property available for adaptation
There is a property available which is already suitable for your needs
You have applied to buy your home under the right-to-buy scheme

After the work is finished?

We will send you a customer satisfaction questionnaire. Your feedback helps us to improve the service we provide.

Will having the adaptation mean rent/service charges in a Council property increase?

We will only put up your rent if we have made your home bigger or increased the number of rooms. In some cases an adaptation could even result in lower council tax.

Service standards

We aim to have your home assessed by an occupational therapist within four weeks of your enquiry. There may be delays from time to time. The occupational therapist will give us their recommendations. We aim to have any work completed in six to eight weeks. This could be much longer for major adaptations.

Appeals and complaints

We will respond to any appeals or complaints in line with our complaints policy and procedure.