Being able to live independently and securely in your own home as you get older or when you have a disability is crucial. If you have a disability, are seriously ill or have age-related mobility problems, we may be able to adapt your home to make independent life easier for you.
In some cases that may mean small adjustments to help keep you as safe as possible such as installing key safes or handrails. These types of alterations are known as 'aids and adaptations' and, depending on your circumstances, we may be able to make those alterations to your home for you free of charge.
How we can help
If you need something like a grab rail over your bath, a half-height step or external handrail, we can usually do this for you. Our team members are trained to decide the most suitable place for these, and we’ll make sure they’re compliant with all the necessary regulations. We aim to install these within 30 days of your enquiry.
Please fill out this form to request an adaptation
There is also lots of technology available to help people to live independently through our Beep Assist service.
Click here to find out about Beep Assist
If you need other kinds of help
Some adaptations, such as a level-access shower or an external ramp, need to be assessed by our team and a medical professional such as an occupational therapist before any work can be done. This is to make sure that we’re not making an adaptation to a property that isn’t suitable for you. We also have to check that there are no planning constraints or restrictions that would stop us doing the work. We aim to make the first appointment to visit you and discuss your needs within seven working days.
Where we can fully fund the work, we aim to complete it within 90 days, depending on the type of adaptation. We’ll keep you updated with regular communications throughout the process.
If we can't fund the work, we may need to apply for a Disabled Facilities Grant (DFG). This process is managed by your local authority, and we will work closely with them to find the best solution for everyone. We will do whatever we can to improve your situation in the meantime (for example supporting with telecare devices, carrying out minor adaptations, or liaising with other organisations that can offer support).
Sometimes it might be more appropriate to move you into an already adapted property, to make sure your needs are met as quickly as possible and to make sure the property continues to be suitable for you in the long-term.
Installing your own adaptations
In some cases, you can install your own adaptations to your home at your own cost. You need our permission to do this though and submit a request in writing. If approved, you will be responsible for servicing and maintaining the adaptations and removing them at the end of your tenancy. If you do not remove them and repair any damage to the property that they may have caused, we may charge you for the work required to return the property to its previous condition.
Please fill out this form to request an adaptation
Restrictions on adaptations
We need to make sure that any works done to a property don’t affect the structural stability of the home, and that adaptations are installed in homes that will meet the long-term needs of our customers. There are several reasons we might not grant permission for an adaptation, but we’ll always discuss the reasons with you and any alternative options (such as helping you to move to a more suitable home).
Making an alteration to your home
If you simply want to make alterations to your home not related to any additional needs you may have such as installing a fence, laying a patio or converting a loft, you can find out more about what you can do as a Futures customer and how to go about in on our home alterations page.
